Why It Is Important To Know All About Specific Conditions And Heart Attack?
Why It Is Important To Know All About Specific Conditions And Heart Attack?
Introduction
This anecdote should be a wake up all if you are not aware of the real link between specific conditions and heart attack. A 24-year girl experienced symptoms for a few days that appeared similar to wheezing and ended up passing out for a few minutes. She dismissed this something that is normal and failed to get herself checked. The symptoms subsided, only to return with more intensity, with additional symptoms, like crushing pain. She could not perform simple activities and assumed that it was related to mobility and spinal cord.
She ended up again in the emergency room, had a heart catheterization and survived. She was diagnosed as a patient with arteries that appeared like that of a very aged person with advanced coronary artery disease. Let’s drill down to more details to understand the link between specific conditions and heart attack. Additionally, let’s also understand how you can prevent risks through simple genetic testing, now available in Tamilnadu.
What are the causes of heart attack?
There are many typical causes of heart attack, and, unfortunately, some of the following conditions are unknown to people. Here are the usual causes that can lead to a heart attack.
- Coronary artery disease.
- High blood pressure levels.
- High cholesterol levels.
- Diabetes.
- Obesity.
- Smoking, excessive alcohol.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Stress.
- Family history of heart ailments.
- Inflammatory conditions.
- Kidney disease.
- Sleep apnea.
The real life incident recounted above was due to coronary artery disease. Lets learn a little more about this to understand the connection between specific conditions and heart attack.
What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?
The following symptoms are commonly experienced; however, the intensity and duration could vary. There are many factors that determine the intensity and also indicate the seriousness of the disease.
- Pain in the chest – Known as angina, this could be some sort of discomfort or pain in the chest. The most common experience is an abnormal squeezing sensation in the chest or heaviness and tightness. At times, this may spread throughout the upper body.
- Difficulty breathing – If you are experiencing shortness of breath, during or after physical activity or exertion, this could be CAD. However, it is important to not confuse regular exercise related heavy breathing with this.
- Extreme tiredness – If you are feeling constantly tired, without any clear reason, it is time to get a checkup.
- Feeling faint – If you experience a dizzy sensation, or if you feel like you are about to pass out, this could also be a symptom.
- Profuse sweating – Excessive sweating without much activity, if experienced with other symptoms could be a tell-tale indication of CAD.
- Irregular heartbeats – If you experience palpitations or a distinct fluttering sensation in the chest, it is time for a checkup.
What are the causes of heart attack in young age?
We now have an idea of the causes of heart attack, and the symptoms of coronary heart disease. It is time to understand the causes of heart attack in young age. The anecdote is a stark reminder of the need to know about the link between specific conditions and heart attack. Armed with this information, it is easier to seek suitable treatment and prevent life threatening situations.
Some of the reasons for heart attack in young people are the same as that of other age groups. However, there are some causes that are different and more pronounced in young people. We will only look at those causes here:
- Genetically predisposed – Some young people are at risk because of a family history of heart conditions. This could also be genetic predisposition to high cholesterol levels.
- Vaping and substance abuse – A raging problem is vaping, and use of recreational drugs like cocaine and amphetamines. Individuals on anabolic steroids may also end up with serious heart problems.
- Autoimmune conditions – People with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis may end up with arteries inflammation that is a heart attack risk.
- Oral contraceptives – Use of oral contraceptives by women who also smoke is known to increase the risk of heart attacks.
- Heart defects at birth – Babies born with structural heart problems are at an increased risk of heart disease at later stages in life.
- Other health conditions – Certain health conditions like clotting disorders higher levels of homocysteine in the blood can promote blood clots. This exposes the person to risk of heart attacks.
Is it possible to detect underlying conditions before it becomes serious?
Yes, it is possible to detect some underlying conditions that cause a heart attack before it can become serious. Testing can detect some conditions and it is possible to take suitable preventive remedial measures to avoid a heart attack. Other reasons for heart attack may be difficult to predict, but it is possible to change diet, lifestyle and other factors that contribute to heart disease. With regular checkups and the right actions, you can minimize risks between specific conditions and heart attack.
Here is how you can check for certain underlying conditions. There are many tests that help to detect risk of heart attacks in the future. This involves analysis of your blood or saliva sample, from which DNA is extracted, following which it is sequenced, analyzed and the results are interpreted by a specialist cardiologist. Tests that help to detect possible future risk are presently available in Tamilnadu, offering a comprehensive analysis. Globally, the following genetic tests are carried out:
- Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Genotyping.
- Whole Exome Sequencing.
- Whole Genome Sequencing.
- Targeted Gene Panels.
- Polygenic Risk Scores.
- Next-Generation Sequencing.
- Copy Number Variation Analysis.
If you are concerned about your health or that of a near and dear one, opt for simple genetic testing. This can help you avoid apprehensions and uncertainty in the future. Steer clear of the need for costly treatments and procedures after a heart attack and choose the safer, simpler and better option.
Medically Reviewed by
Dr.Rajasekar Cardiologist
Dr. Rajasekar is a cardiologist in Chennai, with extensive experience in the field. He completed his MBBS from Madurai Kamaraj University, followed by an MD in General Medicine and a DM in Cardiology from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (TNMGRMU).
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