Ben is a 30-year-old man who has been experiencing shortness of breath and palpitations. This dramatically worries him, leading to anxiety as he wonders if he has cardiovascular disease. If you fit right into Ben’s context, you are at the right place with the answers you need.
While this may not be an alternative to diagnosis through tests, top heart specialists in Singapore suggest it might ease the anxiety. You would also be in a better position knowing where you are heading. That being said, the article at hand provides you with information on types, symptoms, and treatments for cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiovascular Diseases
What are cardiovascular diseases? These are a class of diseases that attack the circulatory system. That is the system that supplies the whole body with blood. This includes the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries.
1. Coronary Artery Disease
It is renowned for being the most common cardiovascular disease. Coronary artery disease is caused by the clogging of arteries that supply blood to the heart. As a result of this, they harden and constrict. The clogging is attributed to plaque containing cholesterol. The overall effect has to do with the heart working harder and straining to weaken its muscles.
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Symptoms
It is marked by excruciating pain in the chest, a condition called angina. Angina sufferers report a burning sensation on the chest with heaviness and discomfort. The shooting, pressure-like sensation may also be experienced on your back, arms, throat, shoulders, jaw, and neck. Other common symptoms are fast heartbeat, dizziness, intense perspiration, and breathing challenges.
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Treatment
Medications prescribed include beta-blockers aspirin and ACE inhibitors. The GP also might prescribe treatments aimed at lowering high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. In the worst scenario, you would be required to undergo open-heart surgery or balloon angioplasty and stenting.
2. Congenital Heart Defects
In this case, a person inherits the disease from either parent. You could suffer from abnormal heart valves that do not dilate adequately or may leak. In septal defects, a hole exists between either the lower chambers or upper chambers of the heart. Atresia is a case when one of the heart valves is missing.
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Symptoms
Running out of breath faster than average during an active state is one such symptom. Children exhibit signs of faster than usual breathing while their skin may turn blueish. Additionally, such children would have an inability to add on some weight.
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Treatment
This requires some medication or catheterization surgery. In cases where the condition is not severe, it might get resolved naturally.
3. Arrhythmia
An irregular heartbeat characterizes this disease. It is triggered by a malfunctioned process of an electrical impulse that coordinates the heartbeat. The conditions falling under arrhythmia include tachycardia. A rapid heartbeat characterizes this. Bradycardia has a slow heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation consists of an irregular heartbeat. Lastly, there are premature contractions composed of an early heartbeat.
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Symptoms
They are marked by feeling dizzy, extreme tiredness, and a pounding sensation in the chest. Moreover, shortness of breath is common. Arrhythmia sufferers are also known to experience palpitations.
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Treatment
As earlier discussed, arrhythmia has different types such that treatment depends on the type of arrhythmia. The treatment administered may focus on normalizing the heartbeat. Wafrin, which prevents blood clots, might also be chosen as the treatment. Moreover, ablation techniques might be required.
Conclusion
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According to a top heart specialist in Singapore, the subject of heart diseases is ever-growing with new conditions being discovered. Thus the types are not limited to the ones provided here. The good news is that improved technology and medications are slowly transforming cardiovascular diseases into something not to fear much.