Heart Disease

Many people with chest pain fear a heart attack. However, there can be many possible causes of chest pain. Some are mildly inconvenient, while others are serious, even life-threatening. Any organ or tissue in your chest can be the source of pain, including your heart, lungs, oesophagus, muscles, ribs, tendons, or nerves

When a heart condition is diagnosed your normal existence is rudely shattered.

Suddenly there are lots of questions to be answered:

• What happens now,
• Can it be treated,
• Does it require an operation,
• Will I be able to continue working – or am I on my way to becoming a permanent invalid?

There are also new emotions to be faced; the panic-type fear every time pain strikes and brings you to a panting halt; the anxiety of suddenly not being in full control of your life and your future; and the anger that all this is actually happening to you!

Your family will have their questions and anxieties too. Like you, they want to understand what is happening to you and to be reassured everything will be all right. Joining your local hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation programme will help. You will discover other people experiencing the same anxieties and worries. (Because it does help to discover other people are in the same boat!) There may also be a local cardiac support group you can join, (I would suggest you join it, as it can give you lots of support).

In the UK, the British Heart Foundation has a list of affiliated support groups and will be able to tell you how to contact your local cardiac rehabilitation programme. http://www.bhf.org.uk/ (For US Groups see Useful Resources)

Related Articles

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack (also called a coronary thrombosis or myocardial infarction), is caused by a complete blockage of one of the coronary arteries. As a result, one part of the heart muscle is permanently deprived of oxygen. The blockage is often caused by a blood clot formed inside a coronary artery. Most heart attacks are [...]

The Heart

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Tests, Investigations and medications for heart problems

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Stress & Heart Disease

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Smoking and its effects on heart disease

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Sex after Heart Disease

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Heart Disease resources & help

United States American Heart Association National Center 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas, Texas 75231 800-AHA-USA-1 www.americanheart.org Mended Hearts 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas, TX 75231 214-706-1442 www.mendedhearts.org The American College of Cardiology Heart House 9111 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814-1699 800-253-4636 ext. 694 www.acc.org United Kingdom British Heart Foundation Cardiac Risk in the Young Hearts for [...]

Heart disease medications

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High blood pressure (hypertension)

Hypertension is when your blood pressure frequently goes over 140/90. It is a disorder characterized by chronically high blood pressure and occurs when blood is being pumped with more force than usual. This force is transmitted to delicate organs such as the brain and kidneys . Prolonged untreated excessive force can be very damaging if [...]

Family History and Heart Disease

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Exercise after a heart attack?

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Driving after a heart attack

You must not drive for at least one month after your heart attack or admission with Acute Coronary Syndrome. If you make a satisfactory recovery with no complications, your hospital consultant or health care provider will give you medical clearance to drive, but be sure you obtain this clearance; otherwise it could invalidate your insurance. [...]

Diet, Obesity & Heart Disease

Remember your heart never gets a rest; it has to keep pumping 24 hours a day, 7 days a week etc. So think how much harder it has to work if you are overweight. Obesity can put a great strain on an already very hard working organ. Obesity increases a person’s risk of illness and [...]

Effects of Alcohol on your heart and body

Alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream quickly, but the absorption rate depends on the amount and type of food in your stomach. For example, high carbohydrate and high fat foods lessen the absorption rates and a carbonated alcoholic drink such as champagne, will be absorbed faster. The effects of alcohol can manifest within 10 minutes [...]

Acute Coronary Syndrome

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