Heart disease explained: Signs, symptoms, and how to reduce your risk

In this article, we will discuss signs symptoms and how to reduce heart diseases risk. Heart diseases can be affected by genetic factors, lifestyle choices, or other damages incurred during the lifetime.

India is suffering from one of the heaviest burdens of heart disease in the world. The number of deaths resulting from cardiovascular diseases is thought to be over 4.77 million in the year 2020. The urban and rural populations have both seen a dramatic rise in the incidence of heart diseases over the past few decades. Even people of a young age are seen to be suffering from heart diseases and the numbers are alarming. Studies show that the reason o this high burden of heart disease is the rise in the number of risk factors such as abdominal obesity,Guest Posting diabetes, hypertension, and stress.

As heart disease is such a common issue and it affects a large number of the Indian population, it is always best to be informed about the signs and symptoms of heart diseases. If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms and signs mentioned below, you must visit the one of the top cardiac hospital in India for further investigations. This blog will also discuss the various measures that can reduce the risk of heart diseases and help prevent them.

Types of Heart diseases

Heart diseases can be affected by genetic factors, lifestyle choices, or other damages incurred during the lifetime. Some conditions like high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure can increase the risk of a person developing heart disease. The signs and symptoms of heart diseases may differ based on the kind of heart disease. Some of the most common heart diseases and their signs and symptoms are discussed below.

Coronary heart disease

When the blood vessels of the heart are affected, the condition is known as coronary heart disease. Many times, the arteries can develop plaque build-up which can, in turn, narrow the arteries hindering the blood flow. The narrowing of the arteries can be so severe that it may sometimes cause a full blockage of the blood flow. When the blood flow to certain parts of the body is blocked, it can result in a heart attack.

Signs and symptoms

- Chest pain

- Pain in the back, neck, jaw or throat

- Shortness of breath.

In addition to these symptoms, women may also feel nausea and extreme fatigue.

Arrhythmias

Abnormal speed or rhythm of the heartbeat is known as arrhythmia. Arrhythmia can lead the heartbeat to be irregular, too fast or too slow. If the rhythm of the heartbeat is wrong, it can cause the heart to be unable to pump blood to the rest of the body with enough pressure or force.

Signs and symptoms

- Fluttering in the chest

- Fast beating heart- tachycardia

- Slow heartbeat- bradycardia

- Discomfort or pain in the chest

- Dizziness or light-headedness

- Unconsciousness or passing out

Structural heart disease

The heart is made up of four valves that help to ensure efficient pumping of blood around the body. Any conditions that affect these valves or other structures of the heart can cause serious cardiovascular diseases. Many of these conditions are congenital or present at birth. Others conditions can develop later in life.

Signs and symptoms

- Shortness of breath when laying down or after activity

- Fatigue

- Swollen ankles and feet

- Irregular heartbeat

- Abnormal sound or heart murmur

Heart failure

When the heart is unable to pump enough blood or the muscles of your heart is too week to pump blood with each heartbeat, the condition is known as heart failure. This can also happen when the heart’s muscles become too stiff and are not able to fill up completely or efficiently with blood. This condition is often seen in the elderly but can happen in persons of any age.

Signs and symptoms

- Cough

- Weight gain

- Fatigue

- Swollen ankles, fingers, lower back, belly and feet

- Puffiness of eyes

- Issues in concentration and memory

Risk factors for heart disease

Among the risk factors of heart diseases, some can be controlled and some can’t be.

Some of the controllable risk factors include-

- High cholesterol and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)

- Smoking

- Obesity

- High blood pressure

- Physical inactivity

People with diabetes may be at increased risk of angina, heart attack CAD and stroke.

The common risk factors that cannot be controlled are –

- Ethnicity- Non- Hispanic white and black people along with the people of pacific and Asian heritage have a higher risk of heart disease than Native Americans and Alaskans.

- Family history- The risk of heart disease increases if a close male relative under 55 years of age or a close female relative under 65 years of age has had heart disease.

- Age- The risk of heart disease rises with age.

- Sex- Males are at higher risk for heart diseases than females.

How to reduce the risk of heart diseases

Prevention of heart disease is much better than looking for the treatment options. While some risk factors cannot be controlled, it is necessary to aim to lower the risk factors that can be controlled.

Have healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels
Manage stress. Talk to your medical care expert if you have been feeling overwhelmed, anxious or are finding it difficult to cope with the events in your life.
Eat healthy
Exercise for 30 to 60 minutes on most days.
Avoid smoking
If you have a family history of heart d

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Comprehending GERD to Find the Best Help with Heartburn

Heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD—these terms are inter-related, but are not similar. Heartburn is the symptom which you will feel when the acid in the stomach moves up to your esophagus.

Heartburn,Guest Posting acid reflux, and GERD—these terms are inter-related, but are not similar. Heartburn is the symptom which you will feel when the acid in the stomach moves up to your esophagus. This movement is known as acid reflux which happens when there is an over-secretion of gastric juices in the stomach and the valve or LES which blocks the food and acid from coming up is not functioning properly. Prolonged exposure to acid reflux leads to GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. To get help with heartburn it is imperative that you understand the what, why, and how of these symptom, condition and disease.

Almost everyone has experienced heartburn and acid reflux. The frequency may differ from one person to another, but the symptoms are the same. Help with heartburn is available if you know what triggers it. A full-size meal of fatty, spicy, and acidic foods prompt acid reflux and heartburn. If occurrences come far and in between, a tablet or two of antacid will relieve the pain.

Now, if you are experiencing acid reflux repeatedly, like twice in one week, chances are you are already suffering from GERD. At this stage, you need sophisticated help. You have to consult a physician because if GERD is not attended to immediately, serious consequences might happen.

Warning Signs of GERD

It is easy to get help with heartburn if you always experience acid reflux. However, heartburn is not the only symptom of GERD. A child under twelve years old can have GERD, but does not suffer from heartburn. So what signs should you watch for? If you always feel like there is food blocking your esophagus, it is likely that you have GERD. Other indications of GERD are difficulty in swallowing, unrelenting dry cough, chest pain, gruffiness of voice in the morning, and bad breath. These are some of the manifestations of GERD.

What causes GERD

Although there are a number of ways to deal with heartburn, the root cause of GERD is not clearly established. What is known is that acid reflux happens when the lower esophageal sphincter or LES is weakened and cannot function suitably in keeping food and acid inside the stomach. GERD can also occur when there are irregularities in the body like hiatal hernia. This is a medical condition where the upper portion of the stomach and LES shift over to the diaphragm. With this condition present, acid reflux will more than likely happen and can lead to GERD if left untreated.

Most susceptible to GERD are obese people, smokers and pregnant women. Inclination to fatty and fried foods, chocolates, spicy treats, garlic and onions, tomato-laden meals, mint flavorings and alcohol and caffeine-rich beverages also contribute to GERD development. Getting help with heartburn can only be effective if accompanied by dodging away from these acid reflux triggers.

The ill-effect of GERD

Getting help with heartburn is very important in thwarting the more serious effect of GERD. If not attended to immediately, GERD can lead to some acute complications. Constant acid reflux may cause the esophagus to swell and damage the linings, leading eventually to bleedings or ulcers known as esophagitis, conditions which may require serious treatment. Although the wound will heal, the scars left can result to the narrowing of the esophagus which will impede swallowing. If help for heartburn is not applied immediately, the esophageal lining may take an irregular form and discoloration. Eventually, these scars can lead to esophageal cancer. It is a known fact also that GERD can aggravate or play a part in the development of asthma, persistent coughing and pulmonary fibrosis.

What to do if GERD symptoms are unrelenting

If your acid reflux does not stop even after several simple remedies, then it is crucial that you seek medical attention. You may undergo a far more complicated treatment if your condition is critical. One treatment that can be conducted is upper endoscopy. This is done by inserting a plastic tube with light and lens into your mouth down to your esophagus to visually examine the damage caused by acid reflux. With this procedure, another treatment called biopsy can be performed also. Together with lens and light, minute tweezers are slipped through the endoscope to gather tissue samples for examination under a microscope. Other complex help for heartburn are barium swallow radiograph using x-ray to pinpoint abnormalities and pH monitoring testing to measure how much acid comes back up to your esophagus.

Help with heartburn tips to avoid GERD

You may take medicines to treat the symptoms of heartburn. However, help with heartburn is more than just popping a tablet into your mouth. The best help is bringing about positive changes in your life. Here are some help with heartburn tips which can turn your life around:

• Cut your nicotine addiction—in simple terms, stop smoking!
• Stay away from foods and drinks which set off acid reflux to make help with heartburn more effective!
• Shed off those unwanted pounds or kilos, whichever is your preference!
• Don’t overstuff yourself with food; eat small servings of food at least six times a day!
• Do not hit the sack after every meal, although it really feels good to lie down when your stomach is full. Resist the temptation to fall asleep for about three hours.
• And finally, a little do-it-yourself help: elevate your bed’s head part by six to eight inches so that you are a bit inclined when sleeping. This can be done by securely fastening woodblocks under the bedposts.

Simple help with heartburn remedies to avoid GERD situation, right? Help does not really need to be complicated. But, as the cliché says, if symptoms persist, consult your doctor!

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