Heart Disease
Heart disease is receiving widespread attention because of the staggering number of deaths in the United States, and throughout the world, each and every year. Not to mention the millions who survive, and have to learn to live with heart disease for the rest of their lives. Knowing what are the early signs of heart disease, can mean the difference between life and death.
While heart disease takes many forms, coronary artery disease is by far the most common form. This disease is caused by high levels of plaque in the arteries, causing blockages, which cut off blood flow to the heart or brain, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
So what are the early signs of heart disease to look out for?
Chest Pain or Discomfort
Probably by far the most alarming symptom, chest pain is well associated with cardiac disease, and should never be dismissed out of hand as being insignificant. Chest pain can take the form of pressure, squeezing, numbness, choking, or any other discomfort, in the chest, neck or upper abdomen, and is also associated with pain in the jaw, head or arms. It can last for as little as a second, to days or weeks, and it can occur rarely or frequently, sporadically or predictably.
Heart Palpitations
Palpitations can best be described as an unusual awareness of the heartbeat, and is a very common symptom. While most people with palpitations have some form of cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms), palpitations can signal a more dangerous heart arrhythmia, such as ventricular tachycardia.
Dizziness or Light-headedness
While dizziness or light-headedness can have many causes, heart disease cannot be ruled out, as they can be a sign of vascular disease, cardiac arrhythmia, or heart failure.
Syncope (Fainting or Loss of Consciousness)
This is a sudden or temporary loss of consciousness or fainting, and must be taken seriously, as the causes of syncope can be grouped into four main categories: metabolic, vasomotor, neurologic and cardiac. Cardiac syncope commonly leads to sudden death.
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is the most common symptom of cardiac or pulmonary (lung) disorders. Heart failure and coronary artery disease frequently cause shortness of breath, whether through exertion, or simply lying flat on one’s back.
Some people wake up at night gasping for air, a symptom that should never be ignored.
Fatigue and Lethargy
These are very common symptoms, and while there can be many causes, it is worth noting that they can be symptoms of heart disease, in particular heart failure.
Now that we’ve identified what are the early signs of heart disease, let’s take a brief look at the primary risk factor and how best to manage it.
The major risk factor for heart disease is high blood cholesterol, as high LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) causes plaque to form in the arteries, leading to blockages in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the brain and heart, resulting in a stroke, heart attack or worse.
To successfully achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol levels, in addition to taking exercise and following a heart healthy diet, adding a natural cholesterol supplement, with cholesterol lowering ingredients like policosanol, lecithin and phytosterols, will keep your heart healthy for a long time.
Don’t simply rely on knowing what are the early signs of heart disease, and hoping you can deal with them if they arise, make some changes now to give yourself every protection.
If you are ready to protect yourself against heart disease, and achieve healthy cholesterol levels, then visit my website today, where I share what I personally successfully used, and continue to use, for brilliant cholesterol levels and excellent heart health.
