Jennifer A. Stephenson11 months ago

10 Warning Signs Your Heart Isn’t Working Properly

Heart problems are the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2011 alone, heart disease killed more than 787,000 people. A couple years prior, CardioSmart reported than nearly one in every four Americans was killed by heart disease. “Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives than all forms of cancer combined,” The Heart Foundation reported. The site also noted that someone dies of a heart-related disease every minute in the U.S. Unhealthy hearts are a crux of the medical field, too, with more than $320 billion spent every year treating heart diseases. Some life-threatening issues and diseases caused by an unhealthy heart include: Heart attacks: Blood flow (thus, oxygen) to the heart is partially completely cut off to the heart. Heart attacks are caused by blocked arteries. Heart failure: This happens when the heart isn’t able to pump blood in and out the way it normally does. Coronary heart disease: CHD occurs when plaque builds up in the two coronary arteries in your heart. It kills the most people of any heart problem. Strokes: These happen when blood flow from your heart to your brain is impaired or ceases. And as we and our bodies age, these issues and diseases become more prevalent because of unavoidable factors that are symptoms of growing older. As they relate directly to the heart, these include: a reduced heart rate, thickening of the heart’s walls, and an overall weakening in its strength as it relates to pumping blood (the heart is a muscular organ, after all). So needless to say, it’s important to understand your heart and the state of its health, especially as you or a loved one ages. There are many warning signs of an unhealthy heart that are passed off as simple inconveniences or non-serious medical issues. While having one of these symptoms may not be a strong indicator of an unhealthy heart, having multiple symptoms—such as a persistent cough and pain in the chest—may indicate that you have heart disease or that a heart attack is impending.to see 10 Warning Signs Your Heart open next page