![]() ![]() These conditions are different from most congenital heart conditions, although some congenital conditions can also be inherited.The earliest symptoms of heart failure are often very subtle, but it's dangerous to ignore them. The first sign there’s a problem is often when someone dies suddenly with no obvious cause. They can affect people of any age and can be life-threatening. They are sometimes called familial or genetic heart conditions. Inherited conditions can be passed on through families. Read more about congenital heart disease Inherited heart conditions Some types of congenital heart defects are life-threatening, either immediately to the newborn or over time. A baby may be born with only one defect or with several defects. Read more about high blood pressure and reducing the risks to your heart Congenital heart conditionsĬongenital heart conditions occur when there’s an abnormality or defect with the structure of the heart of a developing foetus while inside the mother’s womb. Although it’s not a disease in itself, hypertension can lead to an increased risk of developing serious conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. Read about heart valve problems on the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland website High blood pressureĪnother condition which can affect the heart is high blood pressure or hypertension. Problems with the valves can increase the workload of your heart and can put a strain on your heart muscle, leading to a range of symptoms, like: The valves open and close to regulate the flow of blood through the heart. Read about arrhythmia on the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland website Valve disease If the electrical signals within your heart are interrupted or disturbed, your heart can beat too quickly (tachycardia), too slowly (bradycardia) and/or in an irregular way. The heart muscle has its own electrical system which helps to stimulate the heartbeat. Read more about heart failure Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms) This is called heart failure because of the failure of your heart to work efficiently. If the heart’s pumping action can’t work effectively, your heart muscle can’t meet your body’s demand for blood and oxygen, and your body develops various different symptoms, like fatigue and shortness of breath. Read more about the symptoms of a heart attack Heart failure This can cause damage to the part of your heart muscle which that particular coronary artery was supplying. This is most commonly caused by a piece of fatty material breaking off and a blood clot forms within a coronary artery. Until tests confirm the diagnosis, this is sometimes called Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS).Ī heart attack - also known as myocardial infarction or MI - happens when the blood supply to part of your heart muscle becomes completely blocked. You should see your doctor urgently, and you may be admitted to hospital. These attacks may even happen at rest or wake you from sleep. It happens when the blood supply to the heart is severely restricted and angina attacks occur more frequently, with less and less activity. Unstable angina can be undiagnosed chest pain or a sudden worsening of existing angina. ![]() If you have unexplained chest pain, seek urgent medical advice - you will need an assessment of your overall health. Many people learn to recognise how much activity will bring on an angina attack - this is called stable angina. ![]() Angina is a symptom of coronary heart disease, not an illness in itself.Īngina is your heart’s way of telling you it’s not getting enough oxygen when you’re doing something strenuous or you’re feeling under stress. Read more about coronary heart disease AnginaĪngina is a pain or discomfort in your chest, arm, neck, stomach or jaw that happens when the blood supply to your heart becomes restricted because of your arteries becoming narrowed. It can lead to angina and/or a heart attack. This is caused when the heart’s blood vessels - the coronary arteries - become narrowed or blocked and can’t supply enough blood to the heart. The most common heart condition in Scotland is coronary heart disease. Sometimes understanding what is happening can help you worry less. It can be worrying and confusing to be diagnosed with a heart condition, but there's a lot of information and support available to you. Heart disease and different conditions affect the heart’s ability to work efficiently. It’s always best to discuss your heart condition with your health professional or heart specialist who can advise you on the correct diagnosis and name of your condition and treatment plan. There are many different heart conditions and problems which are collectively called heart disease. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |