04/23/2025
Globally, heart diseases are among the most prevalent and life-threatening medical conditions that impact individuals of all ages. A multitude of conditions fall under this category, including congenital heart defects, heart failure, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease. Many cardiac problems can be prevented or successfully treated with early identification, lifestyle modifications, and appropriate medical attention. A person can prevent complications and seek prompt medical attention by staying aware of warning signs of cardiac diseases such as dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat.
Regular health examinations, a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, abstinence from tobacco and excessive alcohol use, and other practices are all part of proactive heart care. Patients now have a higher chance of recovering and maintaining long-term heart health because of developments in cardiology and individualized therapy regimens. You can safeguard your heart and live a healthier, more active life by always staying aware and watchful. Make heart health a top priority right now because your heart deserves it.
At Eternal Hospital, our cardiac care team strongly supports the importance of heart awareness and early screening to catch potential issues before they become life-threatening.
What are Cardiac Diseases?
Conditions that specifically impact the heart itself are referred to as cardiac diseases. Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), heart failure (when the heart cannot pump blood effectively), coronary artery disease (narrowing or blockage of the heart's blood vessels), and heart valve disorders are a few of these conditions. In contrast to the more general category of cardiovascular diseases that involve problems with blood vessels, cardiac diseases only address structural and functional issues with the heart.
Symptoms associated with cardiac diseases such as palpitations, exhaustion, shortness of breath, and chest pain may appear suddenly or develop gradually and silently. Complications like heart attacks, strokes, or sudden cardiac arrest can be minimized with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. To safeguard the health of your heart, timely treatment, a heart-healthy lifestyle, and routine checkups are essential.
What are the Types of Cardiac Diseases?
| Cardiac Disorder | Description |
| Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) | It is caused by coronary artery plaque accumulation, which lowers the heart's blood and oxygen flow. It may result in arrhythmias, cardiac attacks, or heart failure. |
| Congenital Heart Defects | These are present from the time of birth. Types include abnormal valves, septal anomalies, and atresia. It may not display symptoms initially and are commonly detected during neonatal screening or during routine testing. |
| Arrhythmia | It is characterised by abnormal heartbeat brought on by malfunctioning electrical impulses. Atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, tachycardia, and premature contractions are the types of arrhythmia. Depending upon severity, these disorders can be harmless or life-threatening. |
| Dilated Cardiomyopathy | It is characterised by heart chambers that are enlarged and weak. It is caused by heart attacks, arrhythmias, toxins, or hereditary factors. It causes irregular heartbeats, inadequate pumping, and even heart failure. |
| Myocardial Infarction | It’s also called a heart attack. It is caused by coronary artery obstruction (plaque or clot), which lowers blood flow to the heart muscle and damages it. |
| Heart Failure | With untreated conditions like CAD or hypertension, the heart is unable to relax or pump properly, and the outcome can be fatal if one delays treatment too long. |
| Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy | Typically asymptomatic, this genetic disorder leads to increased thickness of the heart walls, which impairs the pumping ability of the heart and is a leading cause of cardiac death in young people and athletes. |
| Mitral Valve Regurgitation | When the mitral valve fails to close properly, blood flows backward, sometimes causing the heart to enlarge and even fail to function. |
| Mitral Valve Prolapse | Mitral valve flaps open into the left atrium, typically producing cardiac murmurs. |
| Aortic Stenosis | Scarring, calcium deposition, or congenital anomalies involving the aortic valve stenosis. It interferes with the body's circulation of blood from the heart. |
What are the Warning Signs of Cardiac Diseases?
| Cardiac Disorder | Common Warning Signs |
| Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) | Chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, pain in neck/jaw/back |
| Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) | Chest tightness or pressure, pain in arm/shoulder, sweating, lightheadedness |
| Arrhythmia | Palpitations, fluttering in chest, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath |
| Heart Failure | Swelling in legs/ankles, fatigue, breathlessness (especially at night or while lying), rapid weight gain |
| Congenital Heart Defects | Cyanosis (bluish skin/lips), rapid breathing, poor feeding (in infants), fatigue |
| Dilated Cardiomyopathy | Fatigue, breathlessness, swelling, irregular heartbeat, reduced ability to exercise |
| Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy | Chest pain, fainting (especially during exercise), shortness of breath, palpitations |
| Mitral Valve Regurgitation | Heart murmur, fatigue, breathlessness, irregular heartbeat, swelling in feet/ankles |
| Mitral Valve Prolapse | Mild chest pain, dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, anxiety |
| Aortic Stenosis | Chest pain, fainting, breathlessness, fatigue, heart murmur |
What are the Prevention Tips for Cardiac Diseases?
There are steps you can take to lower your risk and protect yourself from cardiac diseases. It may include lifestyle modification in the following ways to improve your overall health:
- Nourish your body: Adopt a heart-healthy diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, foods low in trans and saturated fats, added sugar, and salt, and alcohol in moderation.
- Engage in regular exercise: Try to get 150 minutes a week of light to moderate exercise, such as swimming, cycling, walking, or jogging.
- Quit smoking: Smoking raises your chance of developing heart disease. If you smoke, discuss your quitting alternatives with the experts.
- Keep your weight under control: Carrying too much weight can put stress on your heart and blood vessels.
- Get enough rest: Every night, try to get seven or eight hours of sleep. Your quality of sleep can be enhanced by adhering to a sleep routine.
- Keep an eye on risk factors: Control diabetes, high blood pressure, and other risk factors by taking prescribed medications or altering your lifestyle to address any underlying problems that increase your risk.
Conclusion
It's critical to manage heart disease proactively since complications, such as heart attacks, become substantially more serious the second or third time they happen. Nearly 50% of patients who were readmitted to the hospital for a second heart attack within 90 days of their initial one lost their life within five years, according to a comprehensive assessment. To lower your chance of future cardiac events or consequences, you should manage your risk factors, adopt healthy lifestyle choices, and take your medication as directed.
Stay heart-healthy with guidance from Eternal Hospital. Schedule your consultation today!
FAQs
Q1: Who is susceptible to cardiac disorders?
A: Individuals who have a family history, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, or a sedentary lifestyle are especially vulnerable to develop cardiac disorders.
Q2: When should I consult a doctor for advice?
A: If you have persistent chest discomfort, breathing difficulties or an irregular heartbeat, consult your doctor.
Q3. How is a diagnosis of heart disease done?
A: To identify cardiac disorders, doctors advise certain blood tests, echocardiograms, stress tests, and ECGs.
Q4. Do all cardiac murmurs indicate a medical condition?
A: Not all the time. While some murmurs are harmless, others might be an indication of structural cardiac issues which may result in serious complications.