What Are the Early Signs of Heart Disease?
Heart disease can take many forms. From irregular heartbeats to coronary artery disease, many of these forms of heart disease can be prevented by making healthier lifestyle choices. Some of these conditions, like congenital heart disease, are issues the individual is born with. However, making the proper adjustments with these healthy choices can prevent or treat these conditions.
Heart disease is serious, and getting a jump on treatment can sometimes prevent serious conditions from happening, or worsening. Recognizing potential risks for heart disease can go a long way in prevention and treatment. Identifying these symptoms and warning signs can go a long way in minimizing those risks, and the earlier the better. Symptoms and warning signs can differ, depending on the condition, so being aware of multiple warning signs can go a long way.
Notice Uncommon Physical Signs
Because the circulatory system is more than just your heart, some conditions can affect the major blood vessels or arteries. The build-up of cholesterol in the arteries is a main cause of coronary artery disease, and can lead to heart attack and stroke. Many of the symptoms of this condition come through physical manifestations that might not seem as serious at first – but are indications that something more troublesome might be under the surface.
Some of these warning signs include shortness of breath, pain or numbness in the legs or arms, or things like pain, tightness and pressure in the chest. This comes from the narrowing of blood vessels due to the cholesterol deposits, which reduces the blood flow throughout your body. Your heart condition might not be identified when experiencing some of these symptoms, so be sure to discuss these warning signs with your doctor.
Take Irregular Heartbeats Seriously
Irregular heartbeats, also known as arrhythmias, are when the heart beats too slowly, too quickly, or with an irregular pattern. Some of the symptoms of this condition are shortness of breath, the feeling of your heart racing, lightheadedness, fluttering in the chest or dizziness. Arrhythmia is common condition, but still needs treatment, as an irregular heartbeat may mean your heart isn’t getting enough blood to the rest of your body.
Another common symptom of arrhythmia is chest pain or tightness and discomfort in the chest. This is a common symptom for a number of potential heart conditions, so should be addressed and checked out quickly to identify any underlying issues. Fluctuations during rest or physical activity are completely normal, but might be cause for concern outside these instances.
Symptoms of Congenital Heart Defects
Serious congenital defects can be noticed not long after birth. These are important to identify quickly, and should be addressed by your doctor immediately. One of the more easily recognizable symptoms are shortness of breath during feeding for infants. This will also be indicated by poor weight gain from the infant. Other signs to look for are swelling around the eyes, around the stomach area, or in the legs.
You should alert your doctor for any swelling in your child, or if they’re easily tired from any activity. Getting these conditions identified early can give you the best chance for success in treating whatever the underlying heart condition is. For more information, reach out to the experts at Conquering CHD today.