Types of Cardiovascular Diseases: Symptoms Prevention and Treatment

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of death worldwide. Most people suffer from cardiovascular diseases and rely on medication to deal with the symptoms. However, the treatment and medication they consume depend on the cardiovascular disease type they are suffering from. Doctors analyze the condition and then suggest to the patient the medication they can consume.

Types of Cardiovascular Diseases:

There are different cardiovascular disease types. But there are some common ones that people are well versed with. These are:

Heart Arrhythmias

If you’ve ever experienced an irregular heartbeat, you know it can be a frightening experience. Arrhythmias are most common in people with heart disease, but they may also develop independently. When these problems happen, it’s important to see your doctor as soon as possible to identify and treat the problem.

Heart Failure

In heart failure, your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. This can happen for several reasons, including coronary artery disease, but it may also be caused by thyroid disease.

Heart Valve Disease

When we talk about the heart, it’s easy to think about the valves in our chest. Your heart has four valves that open and close to direct blood flow between your heart’s four chambers, the lungs, and blood vessels. An abnormality could make it hard for a valve to open and close the way it should. When the valve malfunctions, you may have a blocked or leaky artery that could lead to your death.

Some of the causes of heart valve problems include infections such as rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or a heart attack.

Pericardial Disease

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium. This condition can affect several organs, including the heart itself and the lungs. An infection often causes it with a virus, inflammatory diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, or injury due to open-heart surgery.

Cardiomyopathy (Heart Muscle Disease)

Cardiomyopathy can be hard for people to understand. It’s not an illness you have, but rather a condition in which your heart muscle gets damaged. The three most common types of cardiomyopathy are hypertrophic, dilated, and restrictive. It can lead to your heart muscle getting too thin and weak and causing problems. It can lead to angina, a heart attack, or even death. The main symptom of cardiomyopathy is chest pain which people may die from without seeking treatment.

Many factors can contribute to it, including genetics, reactions to certain drugs or toxins (such as alcohol), infections from a virus, and sometimes chemo. Sometimes the heart problems are difficult to notice without having physical examinations done.

Congenital Heart Disease:

Congenital heart disease is a condition that happens during the formation of the heart in the womb. There are some instances where even after the birth, the condition gets noticed. But in some cases, with time, the symptoms develop and calls for an emergency.

Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease:

From headaches to heart palpitations, cardiovascular disease symptoms vary from person to person. However, some conditions may have specific symptoms that can appear immediately. For example, hypertension tends to cause immediate symptoms such as fatigue, headache, irregular heartbeat, and vomiting.

However, typical symptoms of cardiovascular disease might include:

• A sharp pain in your chest that can indicate angina
• A person may experience pain in their arms, left shoulder, jaw, or back
• Nausea and fatigue
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweats

Although these are the most common symptoms but indicate that there is something wrong with your heat, it is advisable to reach the doctor for diagnosis to get rid of it.

Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease:

Cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by taking the right steps initially. If a person is not taking cardiovascular disease precautions seriously, there are more chances for them to suffer from other conditions. The major precautionary tips to keep in mind include:

• Reduce the consumption of alcohol and tobacco.
• Do not equip your food with high salt, sugar, and saturated fat intake.
• Always consume fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Do not follow a sedentary lifestyle, particularly for children.

In most cases, it happens that people do not pay attention to their lifestyle, due to which they suffer from different health-related problems. It is important that you are part of activities that help you to stay active throughout the day. Along with that, excess of everything is bad, and likewise, if you are engaging in physical activities to a greater extent, it can be damaging to your body. Therefore, make sure to follow a proper schedule for exercise and do not go for extreme level exercises in the long run.

Treatment for Cardiovascular Disease:

Cardiovascular disease treatment entirely depends on the condition a person is suffering from. Some common treatments include:

Medication:

At the very first doctor suggests some medication to the patient in order to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and for the improvement of blood flow. It is also helpful in regulating heart rhythm.

Cardiac rehabilitation:

Cardiac rehabilitation includes exercise prescriptions and lifestyle counseling. During this rehabilitation, they will get well versed with different things considering their heart health and changes they need to make in their lifestyle.

Surgery:

If nothing is favorable, then doctors move ahead with surgery according to the condition, for example, coronary artery bypass grafting or valve repair, or replacement surgery.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the life-threatening diseases, and hence it is advisable to reach out to the doctor timely. Do not take the condition lightly because avoiding it can lead to death as well.