Health Connect - April 2024 Edition

Dear Friends of MHC Asia,

In Singapore, about 23 individuals die from heart disease every day (1) and this warrants special attention from our timely health update. In this edition, you will learn about different types of heart disease and the potential risks that must be investigated to safeguard your health.

Types of Heart Diseases (non-exhaustive) – An Overview (2)

Heart disease can result from a myriad of pathologies. It may be from irregular electrical signals, heart muscle abnormalities, problems with the blood vessels of the heart or any other health problem that may lead to inefficient pumping of blood. Some of the most commonly encountered heart problems are;

• Coronary artery Disease – It can result from the narrowing of blood vessels which supply the heart muscles. It is one of the most common potentially lethal heart problems.
• Arrhythmias – These are a disruption in the rhythm of contraction of the heart. One of the chambers of the heart or the entirety of it may start twitching at a dangerously high rate. It is due to a problem in electrical signal generation or conduction for cardiac muscles.
• Heart Failure – This is defined as the inability of the heart to pump blood efficiently to fulfil the requirements of the body. This is often due to another cardiac disease compromising the heart’s functioning or some systemic disease.
• Valvular Heart Diseases – These are due to malfunctioning heart valves (the structures that regulate blood flow between the chambers of the heart and the main arteries).

Symptoms of Heart Diseases (non-exhaustive) (3)

Blood carries oxygen from our lungs which is needed by every cell of the human body. Symptoms of heart disease are essentially the failure of adequate oxygen to the heart muscles or other tissues of the body since there is ineffective circulation of blood. These can be;

• Easy Fatiguability – Decreased oxygen supply to muscles can lead to early exhaustion and fatigue, severely impairing the efficiency of a person. Usually, accompanied with shortness of breath.
• Dizziness – Due to low blood pressure in the presence of an inefficient blood pump. The oxygen supply to the brain is compromised leading to dizziness.
• Chest Pain (Angina) – Results from blockage of coronary vessels which damages the heart muscles due to lack of oxygen. This pain may also radiate and involve the neck, left shoulder and arm.
• Palpitation – Due to abnormally fast heart rates. Often occurs in arrhythmias.
• Swelling in legs, feet or ankle – Due to venous pooling of blood since there is inadequate forward pumping of blood in heart disease.

When to seek a doctor’s help? (4)

If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, please seek help with your healthcare provider immediately. You should also seek the advice of a physician if you have;

• Palpitations, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
• High blood pressure on routine examination or symptoms of hypertension.
• You are a smoker and have any of the symptoms of cardiac disease.
• You have Diabetes mellitus (DM). DM and cardiac disease are often correlated.
• High cholesterol since it can lead to the narrowing of cardiac vessels.
• Extra care should also be taken if you have a family history of heart disease since certain types of heart diseases may be genetic.

It is also essential to note how long your symptoms last, how frequent they are and what is the trigger for them. This will help your physician in diagnosing and assessing your health condition.

Remember, timely detection and management significantly improve the health and outcomes of the intervention. Stay vigilant, listen to your body, and feel free to seek professional medical help.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

MHC Asia Group

Disclaimer:

All content in this publication is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute any form of medical advice or clinical care nor is it intended to be a substitute for professional medical care. Please speak to your healthcare provider if you have any questions pertaining to your healthcare.

1)???? https://www.myheart.org.sg/health/heart-disease-statistics/#:~:text=Singapore%20Statistics,of%20all%20deaths%20in%202022.

2)???? https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/heart-and-blood-vessels/conditions/common-heart-conditions/

3)???? https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-disease-types-causes-symptoms

4)???? https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/when-see-doctor-your-heart