Cardiovascular Heart Diseases
Cardiac Illness, also called heart disease — includes numerous problems, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.
Who is at risk for cardiac illness ?
There are risk factors that increase the potential to develop plaque within coronary arteries and cause them to narrow. Factors that put people at increased risk for heart disease are- smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity etc.
Signs and Symptoms :
The classic symptoms of angina, or pain from the heart, are described as a crushing pain or heaviness in the center of the chest with radiation of the pain to the arm (usually the left) or jaw. There can be associated shortness of breath sweating and nausea.
Some people may have indigestion and nausea while others may have upper abdominal, shoulder, or back pain.
Unstable angina is the term used to describe symptoms that occur at rest, waken the patient from sleep, and do not respond quickly to nitroglycerin or rest.