Index
- Cardiovascular symptoms, the signs that should alert you!
- What is cardiovascular disease?
- Who are the people at risk?
- The most common cardiovascular symptoms
Cardiovascular symptoms, the signs that should alert you!
Cardiovascular diseases are very varied and can affect both children and adults. In fact, it is the leading cause of death worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that 31% of all deaths worldwide are attributable to cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the majority of this proportion is located in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the difficulty of taking immediate action as soon as a cardiovascular condition occurs, there are certain signs that should put you on the alert and help you better monitor your heart health. In the following, find out the main cardiovascular symptoms you need to be aware of.
What is cardiovascular disease?
Before getting to the heart of the matter, it is important to look at what exactly is meant by "cardiovascular disease". In fact, the term is used to refer to all heart and blood vessel disorders. As such, cardiovascular diseases are numerous and affect various parts of the cardiovascular system.
Cardiovascular diseases are indeed grouped together:
- Cerebrovascular diseases: these are all pathologies concerning the blood vessels responsible for feeding the brain.
- Coronary heart disease: this type of pathology mainly concerns the vessels responsible for supplying the heart muscle.
- Peripheral arteriopathies: this category includes all the diseases of the blood vessels that feed the legs and arms.
- Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: this is the obstruction of the veins in the legs by a blood clot. The blood clot may break free from its location and reach the heart or lungs.
- Rheumatic heart disease: this is a disorder that affects the muscle as well as the heart valves. This type of heart disease results from rheumatic fever, which is caused by a strep infection.
Who are the people at risk?
As you can see, cardiovascular disease can be caused by a variety of injuries to different parts of the cardiovascular system. As a result, it can affect anyone, and some conditions can be acute and unpredictable. Such as myocardial infarction or stroke. But although everyone can be prone to this type of health problem, some people are at greater risk and are more likely than others to suffer from it.
Indeed, there are certain cardiovascular risk factors that promote the occurrence of this type of pathology. These risk factors are :
- Age: Cardiovascular disorders are more likely to occur in the elderly. For example, men are more likely to suffer a stroke after the age of 50, while women are more likely to suffer a stroke after the age of 60. Studies have shown that women are relatively better protected than men from such a risk until they stop menstruating (menopause).
- Family history in terms of cardiovascular health: if there is a close relative in the family who suffers from a cardiovascular disease at an early age, the risk of developing one is relatively higher.
- Smoking: Smoking is also a significant cardiovascular risk factor. Indeed, tobacco acts on the body by narrowing the arteries.
- Diabetes: when poorly controlled, this disorder can damage the arteries
- The existence of traces of albumin in urine
- High blood pressure
- Cholesterol: excess bad cholesterol can promote the formation of fatty deposits in the arteries and hinder blood circulation
- Overweight and obesity
- Stress: Although stress is perfectly normal in certain situations, when it becomes chronic, it can be detrimental to cardiovascular health. In fact, it promotes an increase in blood pressure
- The sedentary lifestyle
The most common cardiovascular symptoms
Often people with cardiovascular disease are not aware of their disease until it occurs. This is often the case in the event of a stroke or heart attack. However, there are certain cardiovascular signs and symptoms that should alert you to the fact. By paying attention to these signs, you can prevent the disease from becoming more complicated. In fact, as with all conditions, the earlier cardiovascular problems are detected, the easier it is to manage them.
The most common symptoms of heart disease are as follows:
- Certain forms of pain that are very characteristic. This is for example the case of chest pain
- Persistent fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations
- A feeling of vertigo and dizziness
- Swelling of certain parts of the body such as ankles, legs or feet
Those of a peripheral vascular disease, on the other hand, are different depending on the arteries and blood vessels involved. These signs may include:
- Localized pain in the limbs, especially in one of the legs
- Muscle cramps
- A feeling of vertigo
- Muscle fatigue
- Numbness
- Swelling of the limbs
Sometimes a change in skin colour may also be noticed in the affected area. When one of these signs occurs, it is necessary to consult a doctor so that the correct diagnosis can be made.
