How To Prevent Heart Disease in West Monroe, LA
Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect one’s heart. Diseases under heart disease include blood vessel diseases such as coronary artery disease, heart defects you’re born with, or heart rhythm problems, also known as arrhythmias. Also, known as cardiovascular disease, heart disease refers to any condition that involves narrowed or blocked blood vessels leading to chest pain, a stroke, or a heart attack.
Many types of heart disease can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices. That’s why seeing a cardiologist is important. Cardiovascular care can differ in both men and women. Some symptoms include shortness of breath, pain, weakness or numbness in the legs or arm, chest pain (angina), or pain in the abdomen or back. An abnormal heartbeat causes a racing heartbeat, slow heartbeat, fluttering in the chest, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, or near fainting or weakness.
While most conditions can be treated by a cardiologist, seek medical care if you experience fainting, pain, or shortness of pain and have been diagnosed with heart disease in the past. Some causes of cardiovascular disease include atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries. This can stiffen the walls of the arteries making blood flow difficult. Causes of heart infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Risk factors for heart disease include age, sex, family history, medical history, smoking, poor diet, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or stress. If the cardiovascular disease is left untreated, a series of complications can occur including:
- Heart attack: Caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow
- Heart failure: When the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body.
- Stroke: Because of the inability of the arteries to flow blood to the brain.
- Aneurysm: Caused by a bulge in the wall of an artery.
- Cardiac Arrest: Caused by the loss of heart function or consciousness often caused by an irregular heartbeat.