24 September 2023 , 06:00
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It’s vital to stay wary of coronary heart disease - and an expert has pointed out a sound which may be an indication you have the condition.
Coronary heart disease kills around 697,000 Americans a year according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. It is caused when your heart’s blood supply is hindered due to a buildup of fat in your coronary arteries - which supply blood to the heart.
But Dr Michael Miller, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the disease can present itself through a strange noise when you’re going to sleep. He says the sound of your heart pounding should be something to keep an eye out for.
While this is common after doing any form of exercise, it can be a telltale sign of coronary heart disease if you hear it when resting. Dr Miller said: "Some patients with a loud faulty valve can hear the sound of their valve at night when they are trying to fall asleep.”
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Dr Miller suggests that if you can hear the sound when relaxing, you should speak to your GP. There is a chance there is another reason behind the pounding, such as low blood pressure, low blood sugar, anaemia, dehydration, or any medication you’re taking. It’s important to get it checked out so you can pin down the cause.
The British Heart Foundation describes the feeling of your heart racing, pounding or thumping as palpitations.
It could be caused by the following conditions:
Arrhythmia - abnormal heart rhythm
Cardiomyopathy - a disease of the heart muscle that affects its size
Congenital heart conditions - when a defect to the valves or chambers develops in the womb
Heart attack
Heart failure
Heart valve disease
The symptoms of coronary heart disease are:
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
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Pain throughout the body
Feeling faint
Feeling sick
It is vital you speak to a GP if you are continuously noticing the above symptoms.