Heart Disease
Written by Faith Anderson on May 19, 2011
Heart Disease Symptoms
The symptoms associated with heart disease vary on a case-by-case basis. Some people with heart disease may be asymptomatic, while others exhibit very noticeable and debilitating symptoms. The most common symptoms of heart disease are:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Heart attack
Heart Disease Diagnosis
Although most people with heart disease experience pain in the chest, others may feel pain in the arms, stomach, neck or upper back. The pain usually occurs in conjunction with activity or emotion and typically goes away with rest. There are a number of tests used to diagnose heart disease, including:
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Heart Disease Treatment
The proper method of heart disease treatment depends upon the person and the severity of the condition. Some heart disease victims may require medication to treat high blood pressure or high cholesterol, to prevent blood clots from forming in the arteries, or to relax arteries. Some patients may benefit from lifestyle changes, including reducing salt intake, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, keeping blood sugar under control, and quitting smoking. Others may require more serious treatment, including coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty and stent placement, or minimally invasive heart surgery.
Heart Disease Prognosis
Although the success of recovery from heart disease is different for each affected person, early diagnosis and treatment of the condition typically results in a better outcome. By following the prescribed treatment plan, some victims of heart disease can make a full recovery. Others may suffer from severe complications like heart failure, heart attack, unstable angina and sudden death.
Help for Victims of Defective Drug-Related Heart Disease
Heart disease is an extremely serious condition which can lead to a number of dangerous and potentially life-threatening complications. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both women and men, accounting for 25.4% of total deaths. Unfortunately, heart disease and other heart-related conditions are often associated with the use of certain pharmaceutical medications which can adversely affect the function of the heart. Under no circumstances should prescription medications cause such serious harm to consumers. Drug manufacturing companies are expected to produce safe medications and to alert consumers of any dangers associated with their products. Armed with accurate drug information, consumers are able to make educated decisions to continue or discontinue use of their prescription medications. Regrettably, some pharmaceutical companies intentionally conceal the more serious side effects of their drugs in order to avoid negative consequences, such as a drug recall. If you or a loved one has suffered from heart disease which you believe to be associated with the use of a pharmaceutical medication, contact a defective drug attorney immediately. The main goal of defective drug lawyers is to protect the rights of injured consumers, and to help victims of pharmaceutical drug injuries collect the compensation they are entitled to.