❤️ Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
⚕️ What is Heart Disease?
Heart disease, often referring to coronary artery disease (CAD), happens when the blood vessels that supply the heart become narrowed or blocked due to plaque buildup (fat, cholesterol, and other substances). This reduces blood flow to the heart and can cause chest pain, heart attack, or heart failure.
It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide but can be prevented with healthy lifestyle choices
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🔎 Symptoms of Heart Disease
Some people may have no symptoms until the disease is advanced. Common signs include:
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💔 Chest pain or pressure (angina)
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😮💨 Shortness of breath
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😴 Fatigue and weakness
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😵 Dizziness or fainting
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🫀 Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
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🦵 Pain in arms, neck, jaw, or back
❗ A heart attack may feel like crushing chest pain, sweating, nausea, and breathlessness — seek emergency help immediately.
⚠️ Causes & Risk Factors
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🍔 Unhealthy diet (high in fat, sugar, and salt)
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⚖️ Obesity or overweight
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🚬 Smoking
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🍺 Excessive alcohol use
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🏃 Lack of exercise
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🧬 Family history of heart disease
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🩺 Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol
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😴 Chronic stress and poor sleep
🩺 Diagnosis of Heart Disease
Doctors may use:
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🧪 Blood tests for cholesterol & sugar levels
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📊 Electrocardiogram (ECG)
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🫁 Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
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🧲 Stress test or treadmill test
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🩻 CT scan or coronary angiography
💊 Treatment of Heart Disease
Treatment depends on severity and includes:
1. Lifestyle Changes 🥗
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Healthy diet (low fat, more fruits & vegetables)
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Daily exercise
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Weight control
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Stress management
2. Medications 💊
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Blood pressure medicines
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Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins)
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Blood thinners (aspirin)
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Medicines to reduce chest pain (nitroglycerin)
3. Medical Procedures 🏥
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Angioplasty (stent placement to open blocked arteries)
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Bypass surgery (rerouting blood flow around blockages)
🛡️ Prevention of Heart Disease
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🚭 Quit smoking
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🏃 Exercise at least 30 minutes daily
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🥗 Eat a heart-healthy diet (low salt, sugar, and fat)
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⚖️ Maintain healthy weight
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🩺 Control blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes
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😴 Get enough rest and manage stress
🌟 Outlook
With early detection and proper care, many people live long, healthy lives despite heart disease. Prevention through lifestyle choices is the most powerful way to protect your heart.