Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is on the march, fuelled by a rise in the main risk factors in recent years, say experts such as paediatric cardiologist and University of Cape Town Professor Liesl Zühlke. These include hypertension (which affects one in three South African adults), poor eating habits, lack of physical activity (estimated to increase our risk of heart disease by 50%), obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.
Love your heart enough to read up on the main types of CVD. If you notice warning signs, consult your health professional straight away, especially if you are at high risk, urges Professor Pamela Naidoo, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of SA (HSFSA).
Click here to book a screening at a Clicks Clinic
Angina
With this you have insufficient blood flow for your heart muscle to work properly – usually because of narrowing of the coronary arteries.
Signs: Discomfort or pain that usually starts in the centre of your chest and can spread to your arms, neck, jaw or back, and difficulty breathing, reports the HSFSA.
Artherosclerosis
A slow build-up of fatty material and other substances (plaque) in your arteries gradually hardens and narrows them, restricting blood flow.
Signs: Chest pain, shortness of breath and coldness, numbness or weakness, particularly in your limbs. But there may be no symptoms until plaque breaks off, forming a blood clot that blocks the artery, causing a heart attack or stroke.
Arrhythmia
This is an abnormal heart beat, caused by the coronary heart disease (see below), diabetes, hypertension, excessive alcohol or caffeine, substance use or extreme stress and anxiety.
Signs: Depends on the type of arrhythmia. Your heart may beat excessively fast (tachycardia), unusually slowly (bradycardia) or you may have palpitations (a racing, fluttering or irregular heart beat). Arrhythmia is often accompanied by dizziness and light-headedness. Some abnormal rhythms are mild and self-regulating, but others can be life-threatening – always have them checked out, says Zühlke.
Cardiomyopathy
Muscles of your heart harden and then weaken. Contributing factors can include long-term high blood pressure, heart damage from a heart attack, chronic rapid heart rate, heart valve problems or metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes or thyroid disease.
Signs: Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, tiredness, swelling of your feet, legs and abdomen, dizziness and light-headedness or a pounding or rapid pulse.
Heart failure
With this, your heart loses its ability to pump blood around the body effectively, but it may not stop or fail entirely. This is usually the result of damage to the heart muscle from high blood pressure, a heart attack, viral infection, valve problems, congenital heart disease or alcohol damage. Your heart is forced to beat faster to compensate, and gradually enlarges and weakens, so your circulation slows.
Signs: Shortness of breath, especially if you exert yourself or lie flat, swollen ankles and legs, weakness, tiredness, poor appetite, a dry cough (from fluid in your lungs) and weight gain (also from excess fluid).
Heart attack
This is the result of your heart muscle being starved of oxygen and nutrients because its supply of blood has been reduced or cut off. The most common cause is coronary heart disease (see below), and plaque breaking off to form a clot.
Signs: Crushing pain “as if an elephant is sitting on your chest”, shortness of breath, palpitations, unexplained nervousness, weakness, fatigue, cold sweat, dizziness, nausea, heaviness of your arms, and swollen feet. Get professional help at once – a heart attack is a life-threatening emergency. “Doctors and patients also have to take seriously symptoms that won’t necessarily exactly fit the standard textbook description of heart attack,” cautions East London cardiologist Dr Dave Kettles.
Heart infections
These include endocarditis or myocarditis, and can be caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites.
Signs: Depending on the cause, your may have chest pain, coughing, fever, chills and sometimes a skin rash.
Keep CVD At Bay
• Eat for your heart. The HSFSA advises having a little animal protein, regular vegetable protein (legumes), low-fat dairy for calcium, whole grains, plenty of vegetables and fruit, some healthy unsaturated fat (avocado, raw nuts) and omega-3 fatty acids (fatty fish such as salmon, pilchards and sardines several times a week, or flaxseeds and walnuts).
• Work out regularly: Just 30 minutes five times a week can help you manage weight and stress, which strain the heart. “Walk briskly or swim laps,” advises Benoni cardiologist Dr Nivarthi Maharaj. Boost your routine with interval training – short bursts at high intensity.
• Quit smoking: Nicotine causes your blood vessels to constrict so it’s harder for oxygenated blood to circulate, and can lead to atherosclerosis. “Even those who smoke fewer than five cigarettes a day may show signs of early CVD,” says Naidoo.
Also read: Know the symptoms of heart disease
IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com
* Reliance on any information provided on this Website is solely at your own risk.
The content of this Website is provided as a service to you for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need medical advice, you should seek the advice of your healthcare professional.