STATUS QUO:
HEART DISEASES – FACTS AND FIGURES
- Every 4th person dies of heart disease.11
- „Chronic ischemic heart disease“ ranks first among deaths from cardiovascular disease, with acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) following in second place.13
- Since heart disease can actually be treated well, one of the main problems faced by practitioners is that patients misjudge their situation and seek help too late, especially in the case of a heart attack.16
- In patients with no known history of coronary artery disease, those with a history of dyspnea had a fourfold higher risk of sudden cardiac death than asymptomatic patients and more than twice the risk of patients with typical angina pectoris.17
- Most heart attacks are caused by the insidious process of atherosclerosis. However, this disease very rarely causes symptoms.18
HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women.19
Typical complaints in the early stages of heart disease in women include 21
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Physical weakness
- Sleeping disorders
- Complaints in the upper abdomen
Unlike men, women often only report other symptoms when asked, such as a feeling of pressure or tightness in the chest after physical exertion, in stressful situations, in cold weather, or after sumptuous meals. Moreover, these symptoms only occur in about 40-60% of women before a heart attack.22
Symptoms that occurred in the prodromal stage in women more than 1 month before acute myocardial infarction, according to one study, were unusually fatigued (70.7%), 47.8% had insomnia, and shortness of breath (42.1%). Only 29.7% reported chest discomfort, a characteristic symptom in men. The most common acute symptoms were shortness of breath (57.9%), weakness (54.8%), and fatigue (42.9%). Acute chest pain did not occur in 43%.23
Statements from the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women initiative.24
- Heart disease is more deadly for women than all cancers combined
- Heart disease affects every age
- Birth control medications + smoking increases the risk of heart disease by 20%
- 64% of women who die suddenly from coronary heart disease had no prior symptoms
- Women with a family history of heart disease have a higher risk, but they can do a lot to dramatically reduce it
- The American Heart Association recommends women to do something about their own heart health starting in their 20s
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death during pregnancy in developed countries.25
PATIENTS WITH DIABETES
The overall risk of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke were higher in patients with diabetes than in patients without diabetes.26
Diabetics have a 2-4x higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and women with diabetes have a 6x higher risk.27 The risk of dying from sudden cardiac death is 3x higher with diabetes.28
Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) can lead to altered symptom perception such as absent pain.29
Damage to the cardiovascular system is often discovered too late by diabetics. The German Diabetes Society calls for „patients to be diagnosed in time and treated appropriately.“30 „It is important that myocardial ischemia is actively sought.“31
HEART DISEASE DUE TO
COVID-19: CURRENT CLINICAL RESEARCH
Even relatively mild courses of COVID-19 can leave damage to the hearts of those affected. More than ¾ of the patients in a study in Frankfurt showed abnormalities upon closer examination. The researchers found it particularly worrying that these heart conditions were not dependent on other factors, such as existing pre-existing conditions or a particularly severe course of COVID-19; most patients had reported only mild to moderate symptoms from the disease. They see a need for further research on the long-term consequences of COVID-19.32
Chinese researchers also consider it useful to examine the heart of recovered patients for possible complications. Especially since there are still no long-term studies in this area.33
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. It manifests itself, for example, with chest pain or palpitations and can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and/or heart failure. Myocarditis can occur in children and adults and is more common in young men than in young women.
Myocarditis heals on its own in many cases, but can also lead to more serious heart disease.34
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