You’re at the dinner table with your family, enjoying a nice meal. Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots through your chest, and you break into a cold sweat.

At that moment, a worrying thought crosses your mind: “Could this be a sign of heart disease?”

In this article, we’ll walk you through the common symptoms and types of heart disease, the key risk factors, and practical ways to reduce your risk.

What is Heart Disease?

Also known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart disease has long been deemed as the number one cause of death globally, with over three-quarters occurring in low- and middle-income countries. 

Heart disease is commonly defined as conditions that cause the blood vessels to become narrow or blocked, or adversely affect the heart’s muscles, valves, and rhythm.

Symptoms of Heart Disease

Heart disease often results in fatalities as many fail to recognise and quickly address the symptoms when it appears. As such, it is important to know the warning signs of heart disease in order to save your life or someone else’s. 

Some symptoms of heart disease include:

• Chest pain or tightness
• Difficulty breathing
• Pain, numbness, or weakness in the arms and legs
• Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or back
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Excessive sweating

If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a family member, consult your doctor and seek medical attention immediately.

Types of Heart Disease

There are several different types of heart disease: 

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Among all heart diseases, this is one of the most common types that occur in individuals. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by blockages in the coronary arteries due to plaque deposits which contain cholesterol. 

This results in the narrowing of the coronary arteries, preventing oxygen-rich blood and nutrients from reaching the heart.

Heart arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats)

Heart arrhythmias take place when the heart does not beat at a normal rhythm, it either beats too quickly (tachycardia) or too slowly (bradycardia). 

The reason for arrhythmias is due to electrical impulses in the heart being unable to coordinate the heartbeat properly. While everyone occasionally experiences irregular heartbeats, recurring arrhythmias can become fatal if left untreated.

Congenital heart disease

Those born with heart defects are known to have congenital heart disease, where it comes in many forms such as having:

• A hole between two of the heart’s chambers (commonly known as a “hole in the heart”)
• A narrower aorta and pulmonary valve
• An underdeveloped heart

More often than not, surgical procedures are usually performed as a way to prevent serious complications from occurring in the future.

Congestive heart failure

Contrary to common belief, congestive heart failure does not mean that the heart has completely stopped functioning. 

Instead, it refers to a stage where the heart has been thoroughly weakened and is unable to pump blood throughout the body efficiently. This makes simple tasks like climbing the stairs a strenuous affair for those suffering from this condition.

Here are several factors which put you at increased risk of heart disease:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes 
• Obesity and being overweight
• Smoking
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Unhealthy diet
• Lack of regular physical activity
• Stress
• Family history of heart disease
• Aged 45 or older for men or aged 55 or older for women
• Male gender

If you have a higher risk of heart disease, consult your doctor to find out your next step. We also recommend getting regular health screenings to ensure early detection.

While there’s no known cure for heart disease, the good news is that you can lower your risk by taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle:

Do not smoke or use tobacco 

Smoking has been well known to be the main contributing factor to heart disease as it “chokes” blood vessels of much needed oxygen, increasing blood pressure as the heart is forced to work way beyond its limits. 

Even if you are a non-smoker, inhaling secondhand smoke can also increase your chances of heart disease by 25% – 30%. 

Take proactive steps to slowly quit smoking or avoid places that have high amounts of secondhand smoke. Once you have made an effort to do so, your risk for heart disease lowers as well.

Be physically active

Not all may relish the idea of sweating it out for an hour at the gym every single day. However, it does not have to be this way. 

Moderate exercise such as brisk walking for at least 30 minutes a day can greatly strengthen your heart and keep heart disease at bay. If you find this daunting, you can split it into three 10-minute sessions and still reap the benefits.

Practice a healthy diet 

Most heart disease can be traced back to one’s eating habits as it also has a hand in determining your chances in contracting it. Avoid foods high in trans fat, saturated fats, and sodium (e.g. red meat, deep-fried foods, coconut oil, packaged snacks). 

Instead, replace it with healthy fats from plant-based products like avocados, nuts, and olive oil as it helps in lowering bad cholesterol. Incorporate more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fish into your diet which can aid in protecting your heart. 

Also, keep a watchful eye on the amount of alcohol you consume as it can be a potential health hazard.