Cardiomyopathy: Symptoms and Causes of Heart Disease Essay
The incidence of acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death is increasing among the healthy and active young population. This is a matter of great concern as heart diseases were commonly associated with the elderly and inactive individuals.
The most prevalent cause of heart attack among the young population is the coronary artery disease which affects the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Impaired blood flow to the heart due to various reasons during physical activity may result in acute myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death. On the other hand, cardiomyopathy is a disease involving the heart muscle. In this blog, I will discuss the possible causes of cardiomyopathy and heart attack in detail and also provide insight into the possible prevention measures.
Common causes of heart failure and sudden death in active youngsters:
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD):
Coronary Artery Disease is the most prevalent cause of heart attack in young adults
It is a condition that involves the narrowing of the arteries thereby decreasing the blood flow to the heart.
Thickened Heart Muscle (Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy):
This is a genetic condition characterized by thickening of heart muscles due to which there is an irregularity in heartbeats and decreased flow of blood from the heart to the body, especially during physical activity.
Heart Rhythm Disorders:
These are majorly genetic in origin and involve irregular heartbeats that may suddenly stop for no apparent reason.
Dissecting Aortic Aeurysms:
This condition is rare among the young population but can occur, especially in individuals with a history of heart disease or high blood pressure. In this condition, there is a tear in the intima that is the innermost layer of the aorta.
Blunt Chest Injury:
This is a common causation for heart attack among athletes who participate in activities such as hockey, boxing, and football. Blunt chest injury may include heart or coronary artery injury due to a direct blow to the chest.
Congenital Heart Defects and Anomalous Coronary Arteries:
Various heart defects that are present at birth predispose individuals to development of other heart problems such as irregularities in heartbeats, valve defects, and inadequate blood flow from the heart to the body.
Drug Addiction:
Drugs in any form whether cocaine or any other substance abuse can predispose individuals to heart diseases for example vasospasm that can cause sudden decrease in blood flow to the heart.
Symptoms of cardiomyopathy and heart attack:
Heart disease symptoms may seem trivial but from my personal experience, it is always important not to overlook the following symptoms as they may be life-threatening if left untreated:
Chest pain or discomfort
Shortness of breath
Nausea Vomiting
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, or jaw
Fatigue
Sweating
Prevention of cardiomyopathy, heart diseases, and attacks:
Screening:
It is important to carry out regular screening for heart diseases for individuals with genetic predisposition.
Health check-up:
It is essential to do regular health check-ups. Individuals between the ages of twenty and thirty-nine should get their health checked every two to three years while those aged forty years and older should get their health checked annually or as recommended by your cardiologist.
Avoid strenuous exercises:
When diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy it is essential to avoid strenuous exercise as it can cause heart rhythm abnormalities and subsequent heart attack.
Sports safety:
While playing sports it is paramount to carry out the following:
Use of safety equipment while playing contact sports.
Avoid contact sports if you have a history of blunt chest trauma or a genetic condition such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Avoid drug addiction:
It is very important to avoid drugs and other substances as much as possible. Drug addiction can cause vasospasm of the coronary artery thereby impairing blood flow to the heart.
Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle:
It is healthy to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes exercising, eating healthy, and avoiding alcohol and substance abuse. This prevents heart rhythm abnormalities and high blood pressure.
Conclusion:
It is always important for an individual to be aware of the causes of cardiomyopathy and symptoms of heart attack and sudden cardiac death in the young and active population. It is also essential to put into consideration the heart-healthy lifestyle measures that can help prevent cardiomyopathy, heart diseases, and attacks. In this blog, we have discussed various ways in which one can prevent heart diseases and attacks including regular screening and adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle.
