Similar to the pipelines spread all through our building that supplies water to each of the houses from the tank, heart is connected to the other parts of the body with arteries that supply the blood pumped by heart to other parts. In order to ensure the free flow of blood throughout the body it is essential for the arteries to be free from any blockage or infection. However, it might so happen that these arteries get blocked due to several complications. Heart blockage is one such complication that is caused due to the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to the plaque formation. As and when the plaque keeps increasing, the artery keeps getting blocked thereby reducing the capacity of heart to transport blood and oxygen to other parts of the body. This interruption in the usual body mechanism can cause several signs and symptoms to occur which, when not recognized timely, can lead to other medical complications. Mentioned below are few common symptoms of heart blockage and the dangers each pose to the normal functioning of the human body.
Symptoms Of Heart Blockage
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Slow heartbeat is the most common and first of all signs of heart blockage in a person. Due to the narrowing down of coronary arteries in the heart, it becomes difficult for the heart to pump the required number of times, leading to bradycardia or slow heartbeat symptom in a person.
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Another common symptom of narrowing of the coronary arteries of the heart is the irregular or discontinuous pulses experienced by a person. Due to the blockage caused by the plague, the heart skips few beats thereby threatening the patient. However, there is not much to worry if the blockage is diagnosed early.
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Arrhythmia is also one of the signs of heart blockage in a person. Arrhythmia is a condition that leads to insufficient pumping of the heart making the heart skip a beat or take an extra beat occasionally. The threat from this symptom again depends upon the seriousness of the blockage.
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Blockage of the arteries will also cause breathing difficulty in a person. A person suffering from heart blockage will experience shortness of breath and hence face difficulty in breathing which can be a life-threatening symptom. This symptom can further lead to complications like heart attack, pneumonia and pulmonary embolism.
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The patient will also find difficulty in breathing when taking part in any sort of exercise or other exertion activity. The blocked arteries holds back the flow of oxygen, thereby exhausting the person sooner than before, leaving him/her fighting for breath.
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Due to the lack of oxygen and blood flow throughout the body, the person might also get affected by viral fever which can further lead to breathing difficulty. The immune system of the body also weakens during the process.
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A person can also feel dizzy at times due to lack of flow of blood to all parts of the body. It is a condition in which a person feels excessively tired, giddy and unsteady. He/she may also experience a spinning sensation.
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The person will also start feeling weak if the blockage gets unnoticed for a long time. The person might either feel numb or weak in the muscles or his/her entire body might experience lack of strength. Weakness of the body can also at times make a person go unconscious.
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Another abnormal condition that a person can face while suffering from heart blockage is fatigue. The person can feel extremely tired, worn out, exhausted and low in energy. This is a symptom that can occur in any age group but is more common in old people.
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Extreme cases of heart blockage which go unnoticed and without proper medical care can even cause heart failure or congestive heart failure. This is one of the serious symptoms of heart blockage. The heart continues to beat in this condition, but is too weak to pump sufficient oxygen rich blood.
All the signs of heart blockage are not life threatening and pose little risk if diagnosed on time and provided relevant medical attention. However, if the condition of the blocked artery worsens, it leads to more serious symptoms that can very well lead to other complications. Therefore, it is essential on your part to understand the symptoms better in order to detect them on time.