Is your heart trying to say something that you are ignoring?

When in distress, the heart warns you about the underlying issue in the form of clinical signs. You don’t have to worry about all the symptoms, some can be corrected with lifestyle modifications, and some need immediate assistance and have to be treated. 

At Charnock Hospital, we have the best Interventional Cardiologists, trained across the World for treating heart diseases. Patients with high-risk and Multi Vessel Involvement, Angina, Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure, and Hypertensive Heart Disease are also treated here. 

What are the causes of heart disease?

Heart disease or cardiovascular disease is a collective term for various conditions that affect the normal functioning of the heart and blood vessels. Some of the heart diseases are Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Hypertension (high blood pressure), Arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat), Heart Valve Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), Cardiomyopathy, Myocardial Infarction (MI) and Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). They are caused by 

Medical conditions	Lifestyle factors	Behavioral factors	Other factors
Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Diabetes Obesity	Physical inactivityImproper dietStress	SmokingAlcohol	Family historyAge

Warning signs and symptoms of Heart Disease

Signs and symptoms show how your body is functioning. It helps you to identify any issue that your body is going through. The symptoms of heart disease can be confusing at times, it is crucial to differentiate if it is a serious one.

The most common symptoms seen in heart disease are:

• Chest pain: Chest pain occurs when the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygenated blood. If you experience any pressure, burning, or tightness in the chest or pain that radiates to your back, neck, jaw, shoulders, or arms, and if it lasts more than a few minutes, get medical help as soon as possible. 

• Lightheadedness: Lightheadedness or dizziness happens when there is inadequate blood supply to the brain. If you are feeling dizzy suddenly without any underlying medical condition or if it lasts more than a few minutes, see a doctor.

• Shortness of breath: Shortness of breath is one of the most common signs of heart disease. It occurs when blood is not pumped properly to the lungs, which causes fluid to accumulate. This is a result of either a weak or a stiff heart muscle.

• Rapid heartbeat: Rapid heartbeat or palpitations happen when there is reduced blood flow to the organs. If you experience this symptom without any medical history, seek medical help.

• Tiredness: When the heart isn’t pumping enough blood throughout the body, it focuses on supplying the blood to the heart and brain. This lack of blood supply to the rest of the body parts causes tiredness or fatigue.

• Difficulty in sleeping: Experiencing symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, etc. makes it hard for you to sleep in a comfortable position. If these symptoms remain longer, get medical help.

• Swelling: Swollen ankles or feet are a symptom that arises when fluid accumulates in the extremities due to reduced blood supply.

• Digestive issues: Improper digestion leads to heartburn, which is a crucial symptom, difficult to differentiate with chest pain. Heartburn is a pain that occurs when digestive acid reaches the food pipe. If the symptom prolongs, seek professional assistance.

• Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting occur due to fluid accumulation around the liver and intestines which disturbs the digestion process.

If you experience any of these symptoms without any underlying medical condition or if these last for more than a few minutes, see a healthcare professional. Call and get immediate assistance or if you are alone, get help from your neighbors. Don’t ignore these 9 symptoms at any cost.

How can you manage the symptoms of heart disease?

The abovementioned symptoms can be managed with proper guidance and adhering to the necessary lifestyle changes.

• Following a proper diet: Consume a balanced diet including all the food groups such as cereals and millets, pulses and legumes, spinach, vegetables, fruits, lean meats, fish, nuts, and seeds. This will help you to get the maximum nutrients that are needed for your body. Eat on time. Limit processed foods such as bread, chips, etc. as they contain more sodium and fat. Avoid sugary items as they are calorie-dense and contain no nutritional value. Long-term consumption of packaged and sugary foods will lead to health issues.

• Being physically active: Try to do at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, etc. or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity like running, walking, etc. or an equal combination of both every week. Do any exercise you prefer at your own pace; this will maintain regularity and helps to improve your outcome.

• Getting enough sleep: Try to get 7-9 hours of undisturbed sleep. Avoid using mobile phones or laptops during late evening. This will reduce your quality of sleep. Don’t drink coffee or tea in the late evening as it interferes with your sleep schedule.

• Reducing your stress: Manage your stress by doing meditation, prayer, yoga, painting, going for an outing, or any other hobby. This will help you to stay calm and focus on major things.

• Medications: Take your medicines on time as prescribed without skipping. Don’t change it without consulting your doctor.

• Avoiding harmful habits: Quit smoking and drinking alcohol to improve your quality of life and minimize the consequences associated with it. Smoking and Alcohol use will only harm your body, so try to quit these habits gradually.

• Health check-ups: Do regular checkups to monitor your health parameters and to know if any lifestyle or medication change is required. Keep a track of your health parameters to enhance quality of life.

• Getting medical help: If you experience any of the symptoms or if they worsen, seek professional help immediately.