A healthy heart is essential to a healthy life. But, when you start to experience certain signs and symptoms that may be associated with heart disease, you may start to question the actual health of this very important organ. Most people don't really know what to look for, namely at its earliest stages. If they did, their recovery would most likely be a bit more of breeze. So, what is early heart disease?
Identification
Early heart disease is basically the beginning stages of heart disease, which can be fairly difficult for the individual himself to detect, meaning symptoms will be subtle, but still present. Generally, this condition will consist of a narrowing of the arteries that actually lead to the heart, but may also involve a number of other cardiovascular diseases that essentially affect the functioning of this organ and even its very basic structure.
Types
Besides a narrowing of the arteries, otherwise known as coronary heart disease, early heart disease may very well include arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats), a disease of the valve, the muscle (caridomyopathy), the aorta (a widening or a tear in the aorta) or the blood vessel, a pericardial disease (an inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart), a congenital condition (a defect of the organ prior to birth), heart failure (a term used for a heart that "fails" to pump properly) or even heart attack.
Symptoms
The most prevalent symptom of early heart disease would actually feel a lot like heartburn or indigestion. By and large, you'll feel a slight discomfort in your chest that may be accompanied by an almost burning sensation or even an aching and squeezing feeling. Typically, you'll experience these sensations in your chest, but it isn't isolated to this particular area of your body. Some people have felt any one or more of these symptoms in their back, shoulder or arm and sometimes in the neck or jaw.
Effects
As the early heart disease progresses, you may begin to experience a shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, a lack of energy or a change in the rhythm of the heart (moving from normal to rapid). Some people have also complained about sweating and a sensation that their heart will skip a beat, so to speak, or almost flutter. If you experience any of these sorts of symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately. Detection of heart disease in these earlier stages is far better for health and recovery.
Significance
The best way to combat early heart disease is ultimately to live a healthier life. This would include keeping both your cholesterol and blood pressure in check, maintaining a certain level of fitness with regular exercise, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, sustain a healthy weight for your age and height, manage your stress and don't smoke (people who smoke are at twice the risk).
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