The term “heart disease” is actually a category term for many different conditions that affect the heart and the circulatory system. In the United States, Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women and has been for many years.
One very common form of heart disease is atherosclerosis, which is the result of a buildup of plaque in the walls of the arteries. This buildup can constrict the flow of blood in the vessels, and if a blood clot gets caught in the constricted passage, it will stop the flow of blood, causing a heart attack or stroke. Most people survive the first heart attack, but it’s important to take the warning seriously and address your heart health with lifestyle changes and medications that your doctor will suggest, based on the nature of the damage done by the attack and by the condition of your heart and blood vessels. However, it’s always a good idea to address these problems before the heart attack if possible, to try and adjust your lifestyle to reduce the risk and attempt to reverse as much as possible the invisible damage being done to your heart and blood vessels.
There are many other conditions that can cause issues with the blood vessels or with the heart’s ability to pump blood, including congenital defects, which are problems you are born with, weakening heart muscles, and other problems. Because the heart is responsible for delivering oxygen throughout the body via the blood, when the heart has problems, we often experience it as a feeling of shortness of breath. The lungs pull in new oxygen, and if parts of the body aren’t getting enough because of circulation problems, the brain signals the lungs to get more. Pay attention to those feelings of shortness of breath because it is often a sign of some problem with the cardiovascular system. In addition, general feelings of fatigue, or of swelling in the extremities can also be symptoms of problems with the heart or the circulatory system.
Because the cardiovascular system is such an integral part of our overall health, people need to pay attention to the health of that system. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but there are many things people can do to help improve their heart and blood vessels as part of whole-body health.
If you have any concerns or questions about your own heart health, be sure to contact Internal Medicine, Lipids, and Wellness Practice of Fort Myers, Florida today. Call (239) 362-3005 (ext. 200).
