Symptoms in Women
Women don't always feel
chest pain. Compared to men, they're more likely to
have heartburn or heart flutters, lose their
appetite, cough, or feel tired or weak. Don't ignore
these symptoms. The longer you wait to get
treatment, the more damage can be done.
Act Fast
If you think you're having a
heart attack, call 911 right away, even if you're
not sure. Don't wait to see if you feel better. And
don't drive yourself to the hospital. The EMS team
will come to you and start work right away. A fast
response can save your life.
Irregular Heart Beat: Arrhythmia
Your heart beats because of electrical impulses, and
they can get off rhythm. Arrhythmias can make your
heart race, slow down, or quiver. They're often
harmless and pass quickly, but some types can affect
your blood flow and take a serious toll on your
body. Tell your doctor if you notice anything
unusual.
Heart Muscle Disease: Cardiomyopathy
Abnormal heart muscle, or cardiomyopathy, makes it
hard to pump and carry blood to the rest of your
body. Over time, health problems such as high blood
pressure, obesity, and diabetes cause this serious
condition, which can lead to heart failure.
Heart Failure
This doesn't
mean your heart stops working. It means the organ
can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs.
So over time, it gets bigger and pumps faster. This
weakens the muscle and lowers the amount of blood
flowing out even more, which adds to the problem.
Most cases of heart failure are the result of
coronary artery disease and heart attacks.
Sudden Cardiac Death
This isn't the same
as a heart attack. Sudden cardiac death happens when
the heart's electrical system goes haywire, making
it beat irregularly and dangerously fast. Instead of
pumping out blood to your body, your chambers
quiver. CPR can help bring back your regular heart
beat, but without it, you can die within minutes. So
don't wait to see if your symptoms go away. Call 911
as soon as possible.
Chest X-rays
These pictures
of your heart, lungs, and chest bones are made with
a small amount of radiation. Doctors use them to
spot signs of trouble.
In this image, the bulge on the right is an enlarged
left ventricle, the main pumping chamber.
Living With Heart Disease
Most types are long lasting. At first, symptoms can
be hard to spot and may not disturb your daily life.
But left alone and ignored, they get worse. If your
heart starts to fail, you might be short of breath
or feel tired. Keep an eye out for swelling in your
belly, ankles, feet, or legs.
In many cases, long-term treatment can help keep
things under control. You can fight heart failure
with medication, lifestyle changes, surgery, or a
transplant.
Medicines
A number of
prescription drugs can help you. Some lower blood
pressure, heart rate and cholesterol levels. Others
control irregular rhythms or prevent clots. If you
already have some damage, others medications can
help your heart pump blood.
Angioplasty
This procedure opens a blocked artery and improves
blood flow. Your doctor guides a thin catheter with
a balloon on the end into your artery. When the
balloon reaches the blockage, the doctor fills it
with air. This inflates your artery and allows blood
to move freely. He may also put in a small mesh tube
called a stent to keep it open.
Bypass Surgery
Your doctor
might suggest this operation if you have one or more
arteries that are too narrow or blocked. He first
removes a blood vessel from an area of your body,
such as your chest, belly, legs, or arms, and then
attaches it to a healthy artery in your heart. Your
blood is guided around the problem area, "bypassing"
it.
Who Gets Heart Disease?
Men are more likely to have a heart attack than
women, and at an earlier age. But heart disease is
still the No. 1 killer of both sexes. People with a
family history of it also have a higher risk.
Things You Can Control
These daily habits can lower your chances of heart
disease:
- Exercise regularly (30 minutes most days).
- Stay at a healthy weight.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Limit how much alcohol you drink (one drink a day
for women, two a day for men).
- Don't smoke.
If you have diabetes, it's important to manage your
blood sugar levels. And if you have high cholesterol
and high blood pressure, do everything you can to
get them in check.
Sources
WEBMD
This information does not provide medical advice.