Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease You Need to Know
Symptoms of coronary heart disease in each person can be different. In fact, some sufferers have no symptoms at all until they finally have a sudden heart attack. As a precaution, it is important that you recognize some of the common symptoms.
Coronary heart disease is a condition when the blood flow that carries oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle becomes obstructed. This is generally caused by the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to a buildup of fat or cholesterol plaque.
Initially, sufferers may not experience any symptoms. However, when plaque continues to accumulate in the coronary arteries and blocks the intake of oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle, sufferers can experience symptoms of coronary heart disease and heart attacks.
Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease
The following are some of the common symptoms of coronary heart disease:
1. Chest pain
The most common symptom of coronary heart disease and the sufferer can immediately feel is chest pain. Chest pain in coronary heart disease usually feels like a strong pressure in the center or left of the chest and radiates to the arm, back, or jaw. This chest pain is called angina pectoris.
Generally, angina is triggered by physical or emotional stress. Angina usually goes away within a few minutes after the patient has rested. In some people, especially women, the pain may be brief and can be felt in an atypical area, such as the neck, arms, stomach, or back.
2. Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath can also be a symptom of coronary heart disease. If the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen and nutrients, the work of the heart muscle becomes disrupted and the pumping of blood and oxygen throughout the body is reduced.
As a result, the body's oxygen needs are not met and shortness of breath occurs. This will feel worse when oxygen demand increases, for example during exercise.
3. Heart attack
If the coronary arteries are completely blocked, at that time the heart muscle will suffer serious damage. This condition is known as acute myocardial infarction or heart attack. If not treated and treated properly, this attack can permanently damage the heart muscle and be fatal for the sufferer.
Although the symptoms of a heart attack can vary, chest discomfort or pain from a heart attack is generally similar to that of angina pectoris. However, symptoms can be more severe, last longer (> 15 minutes), and do not improve with rest or with nitroglycerin drugs.
During a heart attack, you may have the following symptoms:
4. Heart failure
Heart failure can also be a symptom of coronary heart disease. This condition can occur due to a lack of oxygen and nutrient intake to the heart muscle, so that the heart muscle is too weak to pump blood throughout the body, even leaving some blood in the heart.
This can interfere with the flow of blood from the lungs to the heart and result in fluid buildup in the lungs. As a result, it becomes increasingly difficult for sufferers to breathe, especially when doing activities, even light activities.
Symptoms of coronary heart disease are not always as obvious as the symptoms described above. Sometimes, symptoms can include dizziness, insomnia, and fatigue. In some cases, women don't even have any symptoms.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle by quitting smoking, being physically active, eating a low-fat diet, and controlling stress can protect you from coronary heart disease and its complications, such as heart attack and stroke.
Do not ignore the symptoms of coronary heart disease as described above. Immediately consult a doctor if you experience it, so you can undergo an examination and get the right treatment to prevent more serious conditions.
Coronary heart disease is a condition when the blood flow that carries oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle becomes obstructed. This is generally caused by the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to a buildup of fat or cholesterol plaque.
Initially, sufferers may not experience any symptoms. However, when plaque continues to accumulate in the coronary arteries and blocks the intake of oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle, sufferers can experience symptoms of coronary heart disease and heart attacks.
Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease
The following are some of the common symptoms of coronary heart disease:
1. Chest pain
The most common symptom of coronary heart disease and the sufferer can immediately feel is chest pain. Chest pain in coronary heart disease usually feels like a strong pressure in the center or left of the chest and radiates to the arm, back, or jaw. This chest pain is called angina pectoris.
Generally, angina is triggered by physical or emotional stress. Angina usually goes away within a few minutes after the patient has rested. In some people, especially women, the pain may be brief and can be felt in an atypical area, such as the neck, arms, stomach, or back.
2. Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath can also be a symptom of coronary heart disease. If the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen and nutrients, the work of the heart muscle becomes disrupted and the pumping of blood and oxygen throughout the body is reduced.
As a result, the body's oxygen needs are not met and shortness of breath occurs. This will feel worse when oxygen demand increases, for example during exercise.
3. Heart attack
If the coronary arteries are completely blocked, at that time the heart muscle will suffer serious damage. This condition is known as acute myocardial infarction or heart attack. If not treated and treated properly, this attack can permanently damage the heart muscle and be fatal for the sufferer.
Although the symptoms of a heart attack can vary, chest discomfort or pain from a heart attack is generally similar to that of angina pectoris. However, symptoms can be more severe, last longer (> 15 minutes), and do not improve with rest or with nitroglycerin drugs.
During a heart attack, you may have the following symptoms:
- Pain that radiates from the chest to the arm, jaw, neck, back, or stomach
- Mild headaches
- A cold sweat
- Nausea
- Hard to breathe
4. Heart failure
Heart failure can also be a symptom of coronary heart disease. This condition can occur due to a lack of oxygen and nutrient intake to the heart muscle, so that the heart muscle is too weak to pump blood throughout the body, even leaving some blood in the heart.
This can interfere with the flow of blood from the lungs to the heart and result in fluid buildup in the lungs. As a result, it becomes increasingly difficult for sufferers to breathe, especially when doing activities, even light activities.
Symptoms of coronary heart disease are not always as obvious as the symptoms described above. Sometimes, symptoms can include dizziness, insomnia, and fatigue. In some cases, women don't even have any symptoms.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle by quitting smoking, being physically active, eating a low-fat diet, and controlling stress can protect you from coronary heart disease and its complications, such as heart attack and stroke.
Do not ignore the symptoms of coronary heart disease as described above. Immediately consult a doctor if you experience it, so you can undergo an examination and get the right treatment to prevent more serious conditions.
