Being sick is scary. Being seriously ill is even scarier. Many people worry about their health on a daily basis. Questions like, “Why does my elbow hurt when I twist it this way?” or “I’m dizzy and have no idea why…” can send even the most laid-back patient running for WebMD.

However, there are some legitimately scary health conditions that require attention... STAT!

Education is a powerful tool when it comes to self-care. People who understand the symptoms and implications of serious health conditions are more likely to seek care in a timely manner, follow up with care as needed and follow all directions their healthcare professionals provide. Awareness of what health conditions can affect you long-term and what conditions may even be life-threatening is essential to understanding your health and knowing when you need medical intervention.

Five Scary Health Conditions You Should Know About

When evaluating your symptoms and following up on your doctor's advice, you should keep notes and inform your doctor of any changes. Listen to your body and report any changes, good or bad, to your medical team. Proper treatment for any of these health conditions is a joint effort between you and your doctors.

1. Cardiovascular disease: This is a particularly scary health condition. Let’s face it -- the heart is a critically important organ, and the blood vessels are an essential system for sustaining life. Heart attack, heart failure, stroke, arrhythmia and heart valve disorders all fall into the category of cardiovascular disease, and each of these conditions indeed can be life threatening.

Symptoms can vary widely, and each type of cardiovascular condition maintains its own unique set of attributes. For example, many people understand that chest pain can signal a heart attack. Anyone who has experienced chest pain can attest to this fact. If you experience chest pain accompanied by sweating, shortness of breath, pressure, dizziness or nausea, you may be having a heart attack and should seek emergency medical care immediately. Heart attack victims often survive their first episode and can live full and healthy lives afterward. But proper healthcare, medication and lifestyle changes are required to help ensure that a second heart attack does not occur.