This Symptoms Should Not Be Ignored

Getting Tired Quickly While Climbing Stairs May Be a Sign of Heart Muscle Stiffening

Heart muscle stiffening manifests with symptoms such as shortness of breath at night, and getting tired quickly while walking and climbing stairs. Stating that these symptoms are at an alarming level, Anadolu Sağlık Merkezi Cardiology Specialist Dr. Gürsel Ateş said, "If you are in the risk group for heart muscle stiffening, it is possible to catch this problem through heart examinations that you will have done at an early age, before symptoms at an alarming level occur."

Regular Heart Check-ups Are Very Important

Stating that heart muscle stiffening shows no symptoms in its early stages, Cardiology Specialist Dr. Gürsel Ateş made the following statement: "When it starts to manifest itself with complaints such as shortness of breath at night, chest pain, and getting tired quickly while walking or climbing stairs, the problem has already progressed to an advanced stage. For this reason, regular heart check-ups are very important for both women and men, especially from the age of 40 onwards. However, if you are in the risk group, you can definitely have these check-ups done at an earlier age with a very simple procedure called echocardiography (ECHO)."

The Risk Group Includes Hypertension Patients, Heavy Athletes, and Those Working in Physically Demanding Jobs

Stating that in heart muscle stiffening, the riskiest group is especially blood pressure patients who carry high pressure in their arteries and those with heart valve disorders, Cardiology Specialist Dr. Gürsel Ateş said, "According to the figures, heart muscle stiffening develops in 30-40 percent of hypertension patients. Athletes who lift weights and those working in physically demanding heavy jobs are also in the risk group. For example, due to heavy exercise, the body always needs more blood. This means the heart has to work harder to pump more blood, increasing its workload."

Salt Consumption Stiffens the Heart Muscle

Stating that the treatment applied for heart muscle stiffening is not aimed at reversing or thinning the thickening, Dr. Gürsel Ateş said, "The main goal in treatment is to recover as much as possible the difficulties the heart experiences while in a relaxation position, and to proceed by examining all the underlying causes of this condition."

Recommendations for Heart Health

• Reduce your salt consumption. The biggest mistake made is consuming bottle after bottle of soda water and mineral water. Do not forget that mineral water contains salt. Also, there is no point in consuming salts such as rock salt or sea salt thinking they are "healthier." Every type of salt is harmful to the heart and raises blood pressure. • Always take care not to gain excess weight. • Do not carry or lift weights heavier than five kilos. • Stay away from sports such as weightlifting and running. You can do lighter exercises that your doctor will recommend. • If you have blood pressure issues, do not neglect your check-ups and medications. • Even if you have no complaints at all, have your heart examinations done especially from the age of 40 onwards.