"Chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, are common health conditions that are included in the symptoms of coronary heart disease and are often ignored."
Coronary heart disease or CHD is a condition that occurs due to plaque buildup, which clogs one or more coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are blood vessels that are responsible for supplying blood to the heart.
Based on a report from the Head of the Hajj Health Center, coronary heart disease is the biggest cause of death for pilgrims from Indonesia.
Elderly people who perform the pilgrimage are a group of individuals who often die from this condition. Fatigue and loss of body fluids are likely to be the main triggers.
So, for those of you who are currently or planning the pilgrimage, you should recognize the symptoms of coronary heart disease to avoid this possibility from happening.
Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease
Symptoms of coronary heart disease can be detected from mild health conditions that you are not aware of. For example, the heart beats fast during exercise or fatigue.
The following is a more complete explanation of other CHD symptoms:
1. Chest pain (angina)
If part of the coronary artery is blocked, this can cause chest pain or angina. Chest pain usually occurs in the center or left side of the chest.
Intense activity or strong emotions can trigger these symptoms. In some people, especially women, the pain may be brief or sharp, and may be felt in the neck, arms, and back.
To find out other causes of chest pain, please visit the following page, "Not Due to Heart Disease, These are Causes of Chest Pain to Watch Out for."
2. Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath also includes other symptoms of coronary heart disease. These symptoms can occur during physical activity or at rest, as well as chest pain or discomfort. If you experience severe shortness of breath that takes place suddenly, contact your doctor immediately.
3. Fatigue
Plaque that builds up in the arteries can block the heart's work so that the heart can't pump enough blood around the body. As a result, you feel more tired and dizzy. In addition, this can also cause problems in the digestive system, causing nausea and vomiting.
4. Heart palpitations
The next symptom of coronary heart disease is heart palpitations. Basically this condition occurs when the heart beats faster and stronger. This occurs due to an irregular heartbeat, or the heart is working harder than usual.
5. Heart attack
A completely blocked coronary artery can cause a heart attack. Heart attack is often an early symptom of coronary heart disease. Over time this condition can permanently damage the heart muscle, and can be fatal if left untreated.
6. Heart failure
Heart failure can also occur in people with CHD. The cause of heart failure occurs when the heart becomes too weak to pump blood around the body, resulting in a buildup of fluid in the lungs.
This causes the sufferer to find it increasingly difficult to breathe. Heart failure can occur suddenly or gradually over time.
Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors
There are many risk factors for coronary heart disease. Some are controllable and some are not.
Now, by knowing the risk factors that you can control, you can prevent coronary heart disease earlier.
Here are some factors:
- A diet high in saturated fat or refined carbohydrates.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Smoking, vaping or other tobacco use.
- Have a history of hypertension
- High triglycerides.
- High levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).
- Have anemia.
- Have obesity.
- Experiencing early menopause.
Women who have a history of gestational diabetes, eclampsia, or preeclampsia.
Those are the symptoms of coronary heart disease that you should not underestimate.