Heart Problems
Heart Problems
The heart is an amazing organ. Operating at the very centre of the circulatory system, it pumps blood around your entire body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your cells and removing waste products. The heart is crucial to survival, so understanding how it functions and any warning signs of heart problems or cardiovascular disease are important.
What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease, commonly known as CVD, is a term that describes all different types of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. Conditions you will hear most frequently are stroke, coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), childhood heart disease and heart failure. A staggering 1.2 million Australian adults have 1 or more heart or vascular conditions, and cardiovascular disease is the cause of 27% of deaths in Australia^. Knowing what to look for in signs of heart disease, PVD and heart valve disease could help to reduce this alarming percentage.
Signs and symptoms of CVD or heart disease
Any symptoms of CVD or heart disease should be taken seriously, and it’s possible to feel multiple symptoms together at one time. If you experience any of the symptoms below, seek emergency medical care or call an ambulance. Signs of a heart problem (such as CVD or heart disease) often appear as:
Chest pain: Perhaps the most obvious symptom of heart problems is chest pain. It is a typical sign of a heart attack. A heart attack is often described as a heaviness or pressure on the chest – like there’s a tight band around the chest and often a horrible constricting feeling. If the pain only occurs when exerting yourself (e.g. exercising), it’s likely not a heart attack, but is still worth discussing with your GP.
A choking sensation: Comparable to that restricted feeling in the chest, this can sometimes be felt in the throat, making you feel like you are choking.
Feeling sick or extreme fatigue: Obviously feeling sick or tired alone should not be alarming, but if you have chest pain alongside sickness whilst fairly sedentary, or feel overwhelmingly fatigued when your lifestyle hasn’t changed, it could be a sign of heart issues.
Stomach pain or indigestion: This is probably one of the hardest ones to diagnose, as the heart, oesophagus and stomach all sit close to one another in our bodies, meaning heart pain and a burning indigestion pain can be easily confused with one another. Health professionals can use algorithms to try to determine the cause of the pain, but each person is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Feeling sweaty and clammy: Similar to feeling sick, sweating is a normal part of life and is expected in certain situations (e.g. when it’s hot or you’ve been exercising). However, if you have chest pain alongside sweating or a moist, clammy feeling, it’s important to take it seriously as it could be a sign of heart issues.
Arm, jaw or back pain: If you feel any pain in the arm (particularly the left one), feel it creeping into your neck or suffer with any ongoing jaw or back pain, this could be a sign of heart problems.
Swollen ankles: Although a swollen ankle can be caused by many other things, if it gets alarmingly big, this could be a sign of heart failure. If it gets worse or is an ongoing issue in isolation (e.g. you’re not taking any medication that might lead to swollen ankles), it’s best to get it checked out.
Irregular heartbeat: Again, majority of the time this is nothing to worry about. If your heart starts beating very fast, is jumping around erratically or doesn’t seem right to you (you know your own body) – then it’s best to seek help immediately.
Peripheral Arterial disease
Whilst the symptoms above are indicators of possible heart disease, if you get any severe leg pain or cramping whilst walking, it could be a sign of Peripheral Arterial disease (PAD). PAD is a condition where your blood does not circulate efficiently due to a build up of fatty deposits inside your arteries. PAD can put you at risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.
People over 60 are impacted more by PAD than any other age group. Other conditions, such as smoking, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure can increase your risk of developing PAD. If the pain in your leg whilst walking is severe and your blood circulation is seriously impacted, your risk of heart attack is 3 to 5 times higher than normal. A scary number! The priority would be to lower your risk of heart attack by promoting a healthier lifestyle and in some cases taking prescribed medications, then work on the pain by enrolling in walking programmes for rehabilitation. If the situation does not improve, your doctor may recommend you go down the surgery route or look into some more invasive treatments.
Heart valve disease
Did you know our heart valves are vital to keep our hearts functioning normally? The function of our heart valves is to control blood flow to, from and within the heart. Heart valve disease occurs when your valves do not open or close properly.
There are a few types of heart valve diseases that you should be aware of. Please note, it is possible to have a combination of these types.
Stenosis: When your valve flaps are too thick or stiff, meaning a reduction in blood flow and a strain on your heart.
Regurgitation (or insufficiency): When your valve flaps do not close properly, blood can leak back through your valve, which can make it harder for your heart to circulate blood around your body.
Atresia: A condition where the valves aren’t formed correctly, and tissue blocks blood flow between your heart chambers.
It is important to be aware of what to look out for with heart valve disease. Often the first sign is a heart murmur (an abnormal sound of your heartbeat), which the doctor can hear through a stethoscope. Please note, a heart murmur does not always mean you have something more serious going on with your heart.
If you experience any of the following signs, please seek medical advice:
Chest pain
Dizziness or fainting
Irregular heartbeat
Palpitations
Shortness of breath
Swelling of ankles or feet
Tiredness
Heart valve disease can be diagnosed by a physical examination or a chest X-ray. It can be treated by medication, valvuloplasty (using a balloon to widen a narrowed heart valve) or surgery. In more severe cases where blood flow around the body is impacted, you might be looking at a heart replacement.
When to get help for heart problems
It’s best not to delay seeking advice where the heart is involved. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s best to seek help immediately from a doctor or cardiologist. The good news is heart problems can be treated and, in most cases, improved with a change in lifestyle, diet or the right medications. Please remember, receiving news about the heart can feel scary, but by following advice from professionals and making a few lifestyle adjustments, most people can continue to lead a long and active life.
Living with heart problems can require some adjustment, but our friendly pharmacists are here to support you with advice and steps that can be taken on your journey to recovery. Ask your local MediADVICE pharmacist today for more information or check you’re taking the best combination of medicine for you, by booking a Medication Review.