“Heart disease” is a term that affects millions of Americans throughout the country. Referred to as the “silent killer” by many specialists around the world, heart disease encompasses a wide range of conditions that affect the heart.

In a sense, heart disease is an umbrella term for diseases that affect the blood vessels, the heart rhythm, and for congenital conditions that affect it. Furthermore, “heart disease” can be used interchangeably with other terms. Depending on the occasion and region, some specialists might use the term “cardiovascular disease” to refer to the same things. Still, the latter is often used in the context of diseases that involve issues in blood vessels that cause blockages, and eventually lead to cardiac arrest. These conditions include angina and stroke.

Nevertheless, the prevalence of these conditions today more than ever is, in great part, due to the proliferation of digital entertainment and processed foods, which promote sedentarism and lead to obesity, respectively. With that being said, while heart diseases are complex and dangerous conditions, they can be easily prevented by adopting healthier lifestyles.

Symptoms

Since we’re talking about an umbrella term, the symptoms of heart disease will depend exclusively on the areas that each of these conditions affect.

For instance, diseases that affect the blood vessels, as opposed to the heart itself, are characterized by chest pain, discomfort, tightness, or even trouble breathing. In some cases, the patient may also experience pain in the neck, upper abdomen or back, as well as numbness of coldness in the legs or arms because the oxygenated blood has trouble reaching these areas.

On the other hand, diseases that affect the heart rhythm might cause symptoms such as a fluttering in the chest, tachycardia, bradycardia, breathing difficulties, lightheadedness, dizziness, and even fainting. This is because, while all the structures are seemingly healthy, the heart is beating irregularly, which compromises the flow of blood to other structures and leads to fainting or dizziness.

The heart diseases that people are born with are frequently diagnosed a few days after the baby is delivered. While the vast majority of symptoms manifest as the patient grows and he starts exercising and running around, there are several specific signs that might suggest congenital heart disease, such as a pale blue skin hue, shortness of breath when breastfeeding, and swelling in the legs, abdomen, or around the eyes. In other cases, the person might appear healthy during infancy, but begin to experience symptoms as he grows and develops, including shortness of breath during exercise, easily tiring after physical activities of short duration, and swelling in the hands, feet, or ankles.

Diseases that are caused by weakness of the heart muscle resemble those caused by an irregular heart rhythm. However, in these cases, the symptoms are caused by an inability to pump sufficient blood, rather than insufficiency due to a compromised heart rhythm despite having a seemingly healthy heart and blood vessels.

When is heart disease serious?

In many cases, experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above will cause the vast majority of people to panic, and with good reason; heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States to this day. For this reason, it is better to err on the side of caution and seek medical assistance if you’re feeling chest pain that won’t go away after a few minutes, are having trouble breathing—especially after taking any medication—or are feeling faint.

Risk factors

Like with most diseases, prevention is key when it comes to cardiac illnesses. For this reason, maintaining yearly checkups with the doctor is important to ensuring your ongoing health as you age. Other risk factors of heart disease besides age are gender, family history, smoking habits, certain treatments for chronic conditions, diet, and other underlying diseases such as diabetes and obesity, among others.

Remember that, as you grow older, the probability of suffering from many conditions—including heart disease—will increase. In this sense, your general practitioner will know exactly how to examine you to discard the possibility of any diseases. Furthermore, for those who suffer from high blood pressure or other chronic conditions, it is important that they maintain an ongoing relationship with a cardiologist, as they are the most qualified to supervise the treatment and make any adjustments if necessary. Remember that, when it comes to chronic conditions—even those that are kept in check through medication—they accelerate the rate at which the cardiovascular system degenerates and may lead to an early death if left unchecked.

Prevention

Luckily, while heart disease is responsible for myriad deaths every year, it can be prevented by simply adopting healthier habits, which include adhering to a balanced diet, exercising for at least 2 hours per week, refraining from smoking, and by practicing efficient stress management techniques. Consult with your doctor to learn some habits and tips for heart disease prevention that you could use in your specific case.