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6 Common Symptoms of Heart Disease, 8 Heart-Care Food

The fist-sized heart is the most important organ of the human body. It is located slightly to the left, off centre of the chest. It is a pump whose main function is to promote blood flow and provide sufficient blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to various tissues and organs of the body. The continuous heartbeats maintain circulation and life in the body. But such an important organ can be extremely fragile.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization, heart disease is the number one killer in the world. Every two seconds, one person dies of heart disease. Heart disease is a collective name for all heart-related diseases with many types having its own symptoms and treatments that vary according to the patient’s gender. For example, men tend to have chest pains, while women often suffer from symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, extreme fatigue, and chest discomfort.

The following are the symptoms of 6 common types of heart disease:

Atherosclerotic disease – heart disease symptoms caused by blocked blood vessels

Plaques are fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Plaques that are formed in the arteries can cause atherosclerosis. This type of heart disease is usually associated with bad lifestyle habits, including uneven diet, lack of exercise, smoking and alcoholism. The symptoms include:

• Chest pain, chest tightness or chest discomfort (commonly known as angina)
• Shortness of breath, pain in the jaw, neck, back and upper abdomen
• Pain, numbness, coldness or weakness in the arms or legs

Arrhythmia – heart disease caused by abnormal heartbeat

When the electrical pulses that coordinate the heartbeat cannot function properly, it will cause arrhythmia, causing the heart to beat too slowly, too fast or irregularly. Symptoms of heart disease caused by abnormal heartbeat include:

• Accelerated or slow heartbeat
• Chest tremor, chest pain or chest discomfort
• Difficulty breathing or dizziness
• Dizziness or feeling faint

Dilated cardiomyopathy – heart disease symptoms caused by weak heart muscles

Cardiomyopathy is caused by a weakened heart muscle usually at an early stage, where in most cases, patients may have no symptoms. As the disease progresses, the body will start to show the following symptoms:

• Fatigue, dizziness, and fainting
• Shortness of breath when tired or at rest
• Swelling of legs and ankles
• Chest fibrillation or rapid heartbeat

Endocarditis – symptoms of heart disease caused by bacteria, fungi or pathogenic bacteria

The endocardium is the membrane that lines the inside of the ventricle. When bacteria, fungi or other germs invade the blood and enter the damaged area of the heart, it can cause infection which leads to endocarditis. The symptoms include:

• Fever, fatigue or weakness
• Asthma, dry cough or persistent cough
• Irregular heartbeat
• Swelling of legs and ankles
• Rash-like spots on the body

Birth defects – symptoms of heart disease caused by the heart defects

For pregnant mothers, an echocardiogram can be used to check whether the foetus has serious congenital heart defects. If the foetus has a congenital heart defect, it will usually be discovered after birth, and before a heart attack, the following symptoms will appear:

• Pale or blue complexion (cyanosis)
• The tip of the nose, lip colour and fingers (toes) are purple
• Swelling of the abdomen, legs or area around the eyes
• Difficulty or shortness of breath
• Insufficient weight gain during feeding

Valvular heart disease – heart disease symptoms caused by damaged or defective valves

Valvular heart disease is caused when one or more of the four heart valves is damaged or defective. The function of the four valves is to ensure that the blood flow does not leak in one direction. If you have valvular heart disease, a narrow valve will push blood to the adjacent ventricle, but a damaged or defective valve will cause blood to leak back into the chamber from where it left. The symptoms include:

• Prone to fatigue, dizziness and fainting
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain and chest discomfort
• Irregular heartbeat
• Swelling of the legs and ankles

A healthy diet and lifestyle are vital to your heart health. This includes frequent exercise, not smoking or drinking alcohol, following a balanced diet and eating heart-healthy food are all conducive to maintaining your heart health. Studies have shown that the following 8 nutrients have the function of protecting the heart.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Deep-sea fish, such as salmon and sardines, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that help to protect the heart and prevent cardiovascular diseases and inflammation. A study by Harvard University in the U.S. found that eating deep-sea fish at least twice a week and ingesting about 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death by 36% and reduce the possibility of death by 17%. Walnuts, perilla seeds, flax seeds, and the oils extracted from them are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Zinc

Like omega-3 fatty acids, zinc can help the body produce anti-inflammatory cytokines and help to prevent inflammation. At the same time, zinc also has a protective effect on arteries, prevent coronary artery disease and improve heart function. Zinc is mainly derived from some protein-rich foods. Meat, liver, eggs, and seafood are good sources of dietary zinc. Some plant seeds like sesame, sunflower seeds, and pine nuts are also rich in zinc.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a catalyst for lowering cholesterol in the blood and prevent heart disease. It can also reduce nerve and muscle excitability, maintain heart elasticity, and prevent strokes and heart attacks. Studies have shown that an insufficient amount of magnesium in the diet may lead to an increase in blood pressure and the risk of stroke and heart disease. Nuts, soybeans, and cooked green vegetables such as spinach, beets, and cabbage are the best sources of dietary magnesium.

Vitamin D

Apart from being good for bone health, vitamin D is also good for the heart. Studies have found that an insufficient amount of vitamin D can increase the risk of heart disease by 40% while the risk of sudden cardiac death can be as high as 81%. There are not many sources of vitamin D in food, except fish (especially fish liver), animal organs, mushrooms, eggs, and whole milk. Sunlight is the main source of vitamin D for the body, which is also good for the heart.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Studies have found that sufficient vitamin C in the diet can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Fresh fruits and vegetables are high in vitamin C. Citrus fruits and tomatoes are the best sources of vitamin C and can be eaten frequently.

Vitamin E

Like vitamin C, vitamin E is also a strong antioxidant that can regulate cholesterol levels in the body, inhibit platelet aggregation, and reduce the risk of myocardial infarction. All kinds of nuts, seeds and avocados are the best sources of dietary vitamin E. A sufficient diet of these sources is good for your cardiovascular health.

Allicin

Garlic contains effective substances such as alliin and allinase. After being crushed, they will interact with each other to form allicin which has good health effects. Allicin helps to stretch the blood vessels, improve blood flow, and lower blood pressure, and has a positive effect on heart health. Therefore, it is recommended that garlic is pureed and left to rest for 10-15 minutes before eating. Eating garlic raw in this form can increase the body’s absorption of allicin, as the content of allicin in garlic decreases after cooking.

Lycopene

Lycopene is a carotenoid and has a strong antioxidant effect. According to research, lycopene can help to prevent cancer and heart disease as the higher the lycopene content in the human adipose tissue, the lower the risk of myocardial infarction. Lycopene can also increase arterial elasticity, reduce platelet aggregation, improve the function of vascular endothelial tissue, and prevent arteriosclerosis. Red foods such as tomatoes and watermelons are rich in lycopene. In addition to the patented nitric oxide, Elken Taiwan’s LX Yang health supplement also contains tomato solution extract (TAE) which contains lycopene, a breakthrough component, which helps to maintain good health.