Every 36 seconds, one person succumbs to cardiovascular disease in the United States, making Deerfield Beach heart disease one of the leading causes of death for both men and women in America. There are various types of heart disease that affect the heart in different ways and present varying symptoms. Therefore, early detection of heart disease may help prevent serious complications, including stroke, aneurysm, and sudden cardiac arrest. Below are the different types and symptoms of heart disease.
Congenital Heart Defects
This heart condition develops before a baby is born and may involve structural problems such as the absence of a ventricle. Congenital heart defect may present no symptoms and may only be established during a routine check-up. Adults may also develop this heart defect due to aging, which causes structural changes in the heart.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy occurs when your heart becomes weak and fails to transport blood to the rest of the body. If you have this condition, you may fail to experience any symptoms during the onset stages. As the disease advances, you may experience:
· Breathlessness
· Fatigue
· Dizziness
· Swollen legs
· Bloated stomach
Types Of Cardiomyopathy
· Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
This is caused by abnormal genes which cause the thickening of the heart muscles. You may also develop this condition as you advance in age or due to high blood pressure.
· Dilated Cardiomyopathy
This is the most common type of cardiomyopathy, which causes the left ventricle to dilate and may be caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart due to infections and certain medications such as drugs used in cancer treatment.
· Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
This condition may occur for no established reason and causes the heart chamber muscles to become stiff. It is an uncommon type of cardiomyopathy that may occur in people of different ages.
Aortic Stenosis
Aortic valve stenosis occurs when there is constriction of the heart’s aortic valve. This prevents the valve from fully opening and partially or completely blocks blood flow from the heart to other parts of the body. People with aortic stenosis may not experience symptoms until there is a vast amount of restricted blood flow. These symptoms include:
· Rapid heartbeat
· Dizziness
· Swollen feet or ankles
· Shortness of breath
· Chest pain
This condition majorly affects older people due to calcium build-up in the valve cusp – aortic valve calcification.
Myocardial Infarction
A heart attack or myocardial infarction occurs due to blockage of blood flow to the heart caused by the accumulation of fat deposits and cholesterol in the coronary arteries.
Risk Factors For Heart Attack
· Obesity
People with excess body weight are at risk of having a heart attack as obesity is associated with high blood cholesterol levels. Reducing and maintaining a healthy body weight may help lower this risk.
· Diabetes
Low insulin production or failing to respond to insulin results in high blood sugar levels, putting you at risk of a heart attack.
· Physical Inactivity
You may gain excess weight and high blood cholesterol when you fail to engage in regular exercise.
· Family History
Your chances of having a heart attack might be higher if your sibling or parent had a heart attack at an early age.
While most of these heart diseases are life-threatening, the good news is there is a treatment for each, which is why you should schedule an appointment with your specialist at Life Imaging Fla for diagnosis and treatment to improve your overall well-being.
