Signs and symptoms of heart diseases and conditions
Learn the signs and symptoms of the most common heart diseases and blood circulation conditions.
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Heart disease is a sequence of events, which begins from numerous risk factors, such as:
- obesity
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
If left untreated, it can progress to:
- stroke
- heart attack
- coronary artery disease
Eventually, these conditions can lead to end-stage heart failure and/or death. End-stage heart failure means that both sides of the heart fail to pump enough blood to sustain your body.
Common signs and symptoms for heart disease include:
- fainting
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
You should be tested if you:
- experience chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting
- are worried about your heart disease risk
A blood test will help your health care provider decide if you should be tested for a heart disease or condition. To understand the results, they will look at any risk factors you have.
Risk factors determine a person's chance of dying from heart disease or surviving a heart attack within 10 years. Risk factors include:
- diabetes
- a current heart disease
- other medical conditions, such as:
- high cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- lifestyle choices, such as your diet and how much you exercise
You will be placed into a risk category of:
- low
- medium
- high
Your health care provider will then create a treatment plan for you. The plan will address lifestyle changes, medication or both.
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