In South Africa today, more than half those dying of cardiovascular disease are under 65, and deaths in those aged 35-65 are set to soar by more than 40% by 2030, says Professor Pamela Naidoo, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA).
It’s important to be aware of signs and to take steps early to manage heart health, but some heart conditions creep up. This makes regular check-ups essential, especially if you are at high risk, and have a family history of CVD, are overweight or obese, diabetic, hypertensive or a smoker.
“Don’t self-manage,” Naidoo says. "You’ll need medical attention when symptoms are severe, classic or acute.”
The most common forms of heart disease are:
Coronary artery disease
This is caused by atherosclerosis – the gradual build-up in your arteries of plaque (fatty, cholesterol-containing material), which hardens and narrows the vessels and restricts blood flow. Plaque can also break off and form a clot which can block blood flow, triggering a heart attack or stroke.
Symptoms: Angina (chest discomfort, pressure or pain caused by insufficient blood flow for the heart muscle to function effectively; angina can sometimes be mistaken for indigestion, and may be felt in the shoulder, arms, neck, throat, jaw or back); shortness of breath; irregular or rapid heartbeat; weakness or dizziness; nausea and sweating; fatigue; muscle weakness in your legs from lack of circulation.
Cardiomyopathy
This too covers a variety of conditions, caused by diseased heart muscle, which is usually the result of in inherited disorder, illness or lifestyle factors. Cardiomyopathy makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of your body.
Symptoms: Breathlessness; swelling of your legs, ankles or feet, abdominal bloating; difficulty lying flat (you battle to breath, or you cough); fatigue; rapid, pounding or fluttering heartbeats; chest pressure or discomfort; dizziness, light-headedness and fainting.
Heart valve disease
The four valves controlling blood flow through your heart can be damaged, due to inherited abnormalities or birth defects (congenital heart disease), rheumatic fever, infections, cardiomyopathy, or damage to the heart after you’ve had a heart attack.
Symptoms: Chest discomfort during physical activity; shortness of breath and difficulty catching your breath after exertion; weakness, dizziness, fainting; rapid or irregular heartbeat: swelling of ankles, feet or abdomen; rapid weight gain (it’s possible to gain a kilo a day).
Congenital heart disease
This is problems with the heart’s structure since birth.
Symptoms: In infants and children: bluish skin, fingernails and lips; swelling of the feet, legs, belly and sometimes around the eyes; rapid breathing; poor feeding and weight gain; frequent lung infections. In adults: shortness of breath, limited ability to exercise, and symptoms of value disease (see above) or heart failure (below).
Heart failure
This is the reduced ability of your heart to pump blood efficiently around the body, forcing it to beat faster. The heart gradually enlarges to cope with the workload, and weakens.
Symptoms: Shortness of breath (especially during exertion or lying flat); swelling of ankles and legs; weakness and tiredness; poor appetite; dry cough due to fluid in the lungs; unusual weight gain (from that excess fluid).
Heart attack
This is what happens when an artery becomes blocked, and blood and oxygen can no longer be circulated around your body.
Symptoms: An overwhelming sense of anxiety; shortness of breath; light-headedness, dizziness; crushing chest pain that can spread to the shoulders, arms, neck or jaw; abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.
The bottom line
While some heart problems come on slowly and can be managed with medical care when picked up during check-ups, it’s vital to seek emergency medical care any time you experience chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting.
“Swift action can save your life,” says Naidoo.
Click here to book a screening at your nearest Clicks Clinic.
Also read: Tips for a healthy heart
For more on heart disease, visit the HSFSA website
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.