The Symptoms of Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular disease is the Nation’s leading killer of both men and women among all of the racial groups. An estimated one million Americans die of cardiovascular disease each year. This accounts for forty-two percent of all deaths and makes it the leading cause of death of all Americans age thirty-five and older. Cardiovascular disease refers to all of the diseases of the heart and blood vessels which include angina, heart attack, diseases of the heart valves or heart muscle, heart failure, stroke and pain from poor blood flow to the legs.

A person may have cardiovascular disease without experiencing any symptoms. This is known as silent ischemia. When symptoms are present the severity varies depending on the extent of blockage of the normal blood flow to the affected area.

The symptoms of a heart attack include central chest pain with a squeezing feeling that lasts a few minutes, chest pain that spreads to the neck, shoulders and arms, chest discomfort along with lightheadedness, sweating, faintness, nausea or shortness of breath.

Stroke symptoms include weakness of the arms and legs, loss of feeling in the face or body, difficulty speaking, sudden loss of vision in one eye, dizziness and a sudden intense headache.

The symptoms of congestive heart failure include swelling of the lower extremities that is referred to as “peripheral edema” and an intolerance to exercise that is followed by shortness of breath, fatigue and a cough.

Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of cardiovascular disease, but they fail to address the root of the problem. Cardiovascular disease can be stopped and even reversed by natural medicine therapies that address the underlying cause of the disease.

Risk factors are based on aspects of the patients family history, behaviors and habits and the current health status. The more risk factors a person has, the higher the risk is of developing cardiovascular disease. Examples of risk factors include smoking, lack of physical activity and poor nutrition. Smokers have twice the risk of cardiovascular disease than a non-smoker. A fifth of the one million annual deaths are attributable to smoking. Those who are not physically active also have twice the risk of cardiovascular disease than those who live active lifestyles. Nutrition can also a big risk factor. Around 58 million adults are obese, which makes them at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease costs the nation an average of $274 billion each year. This includes health expenditures and loss of productivity. This burden will continue to grow as the population ages. There are many steps that can be taken to prevent cardiovascular disease. Lowering cholesterol, quitting smoking and easing stress are just a few of the steps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is important to discuss other preventative measures with your doctor. Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of Americans, but it doesn’t have to be. Start taking the steps towards a happy, healthier heart today.