Millions of UK residents are living with heart and circulatory diseases, with over half of us likely to develop one of these conditions in our lifetime, according to the British Heart Foundation. This underscores the importance of monitoring our heart health and being vigilant about potential disease symptoms.
Dr Darius Farzad, a cardiologist at Jefferson Health, revealed that chest pain is the most common complaint encountered in hospitals. He advised anyone experiencing chest pain, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to inform a healthcare provider, during an interview on the Living Well podcast.
He also noted that many individuals who are later diagnosed with heart issues often dismiss chest pain as heartburn and attempt to “ride it out” for several days. Dr Farzad cautioned against relying on Google for symptom diagnosis, stating that online information is “it’s not always reliable”.
Instead, he urged those experiencing new symptoms to consult a doctor.
Dr Farzad explained: “The thing about some forms of heart disease is that they can manifest in a lot of different ways,” He added that heart disease can be systemic, affecting various organ systems linked to a central cardiac diagnosis, reports Surrey Live.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has reported that over 7.6 million people in the UK are afflicted by heart and circulatory diseases, a figure that dwarfs the combined total of individuals living with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Alarmingly, this number is set to rise, with predictions suggesting up to one million additional cases of heart and circulatory diseases by 2030, and two million more by 2040.
Approximately 80% of those affected also contend with at least one other health condition.
If you’ve experienced any form of cardiac disease, had a heart attack, suffered from congestive heart failure or arrhythmia, or carry standard risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes, or have a history of smoking, it’s advised to see a cardiologist, recommends Dr Farzad. Anyone with symptoms potentially linked to heart issues should seek medical advice promptly.
Wondering how to bolster heart health and slash the risk of developing heart disease?
Dr Farzad emphasises the importance of regular exercise and smoking cessation. Indeed, giving up smoking might be the “most important, biggest thing” for protecting your health.
This approach involves shunning fried foods, sweets, processed items, and empty carbs, instead embracing a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean meats.
Nonetheless, Dr Farzad added a note on practicality: “We have to be really realistic about these things when we talk to patients and find a balance that’s going to work for them and be practical.”
