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* tight, suffocating chest pain, often associated with angina and heart attack.
* sensations of fluttering, thumping, pounding, or racing of the heart, known as palpitations.
* shortness of breath.
* fluid retention in the legs, ankles, abdomen, lungs, or heart.
* light headedness, weakness, dizziness, or fainting spells.
Please be aware that sometimes heart disease has no symptoms or the symptoms may be the result of another condition.
The most common types of heart disease are following -
* Heart Arrhythmia’s - Arrhythmia’s are irregularities in the heart's normal beating pattern.
* Coronary Heart Disease - This is the most common heart problem and is characterised by blocked coronary arteries resulting in a reduced blood flow and oxygen to the heart. This blockage could have started from the time you were very young and just became progressively worse over the years.
This type of heart disease is very concerning as it can lead to heart failure, angina, attacks and death.
There are no exact known causes of coronary heart disease, however there are certain risk factors responsible for the development of the disease.
* it runs in families
* it is more common in men
* people over the age of 40 are more likely to get this disease
* Diabetics are also more prone to heart disease.
* smoking significantly increases the chances of coronary heart disease
* being overweight
* having high cholesterol
* leading a sedentary life
* stress
Heart Valve Disease - The heart depends on four valves to keep the blood flowing in the right direction. Diseases of the valves is not quite as prevalent these days due to nutrition awareness. A faulty valve may not open or close properly. A defective valve may have been present from birth or the valves may be inflamed.
Pericardial Disease - Any disease of the pericardium, the fibrous membrane in which the heart sits, is classified as pericardial disease. One of the more common is an inflammatory condition called pericarditis. It is usually caused by viral infection. Pericarditis often subsides on its own, but it also responds to anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin.
Primary Myocardial Disease (Cardiomyopathy) - This is a heart muscle disease which makes the muscle become weak and flabby so that the heart gets bigger as the muscle wall dilates under the strain. Usually it is unknown what causes this disease.
Congenital Heart Disease - The development of the heart inside the womb is a very complicated and intricate process and can occasionally go wrong. In this case, a baby is born with heart defects, and the exact reason why this occurs is hard to fathom.
Genetic abnormalities or infections contracted during pregnancy by the mother may also result in congenital heart disease for the child.
Causes
You will have to describe your symptoms to your doctor in order for him or her to diagnose which heart disease you have, if any. An examination will then take place along with listening to the heart itself for clues.
If heart disease is suspected, further tests will be performed.
Treatments and advice
It is best to seek conventional medical treatments if there is any suspected heart disease. Alternative remedies should also be used but as supplements or in addition to your conventional treatment.
The basis of conventional care is the use of drugs and surgery as well as to help make the correct changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Relaxation - Focus on techniques to help the body to relax and reduce stress and consequently avoid, control or prevent heart disease. Relaxation reduces stress, and stress has been identified as a likely risk factor for coronary heart disease.
Chinese Medicine - Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine generally view heart disease as arising from heart weakness or blocked energy flow. Depending on the symptoms, standard treatment would involve prescribed herbal remedies plus massage, acupuncture, and dietary recommendations.
Herbal Therapies - The plant world is full of herbs that can affect the heart. The therapeutic properties of some have been tested and trialed with positive results.
The effects of others, such as motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium), are not as well researched yet perhaps no less effective. Certain herbs, such as foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), contain compounds that make them particularly potent. Because of their potentially dangerous side effects, they should be administered only by a Professional.
Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) is a highly effective heart healer. However, any herbal treatment of the heart should be supervised by a Health Professional and approved by your doctor.
Diet and lifestyle
You should make certain adjustments to your lifestyle if you want to avoid this disease:
* If you smoke, quit.
* exercise
* drink alcohol in moderation
Dietary Considerations
It is vitally important that your diet is low in fat and salt, high in fibre.
There are also specific vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, such as magnesium, potassium, niacin (vitamin B3), many other B-complex vitamins, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine (an amino acid), and the fatty acids in fish oils, that specifically protect against heart and arterial disease.
Prevention
* Eat more fruits, vegetables, and grains, and fewer foods that are salty, high in fat, or fried.
* Exercise regularly
* Drink alcohol in moderation, if you do drink.
* Don't smoke.
* Learn to control stress.
When to seek further professional advice
* you experience unusual chest pain, particularly if it persists or recurs.
* if your heat beat is consistently irregular .
* you become suddenly dizzy, light headed, weak, or faint.
