Health effects of heart diseases and conditions

Learn how heart diseases and blood circulation conditions can affect your health.

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Physical effects of heart diseases and conditions

Physical effects of heart diseases and blood circulation conditions can include being unable to perform your usual physical activities. This means you may not be able to work or travel due to:

  • chest pain
  • fatigue (tiredness)
  • shortness of breath
  • medication side effects

If a surgery is required, and depending on how invasive it is, patients may experience:

  • pain
  • chills
  • fever
  • swelling
  • bleeding
  • feeling generally unwell

Increased risk effects of heart diseases and conditions

Living with heart disease, having a heart procedure or surviving a stroke may cause you to feel:

  • pain or an increase in pain you already have
  • fatigue or becoming more tired than you already are
  • fear
  • anxiety
  • sadness
  • depression

Depression in particular can lead to making unhealthy choices like:

  • smoking
  • drinking heavily
  • using illegal drugs
  • avoiding your medication

This experience may be worsened if you have another heart attack and must return to the hospital. This could further damage your heart muscles and lead to unexpected death.

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