Heart disease is the umbrella term for a number of heart-related disorders. Heart conditions consist of.
- Diseases of the blood vessels, including coronary artery disease
- Heart irregularities, or arrhythmias
- Heart issues that are present from birth (congenital heart defects)
- Illness of the cardiac muscle
- Heart valve dysfunction
Making good lifestyle choices can help prevent or treat many types of heart disease.
Heart disease symptoms in the blood vessels
One common heart disorder that affects the main blood arteries supplying the heart muscle is coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is typically brought on by cholesterol buildup (plaques) in the heart arteries. Atherosclerosis is the term for the accumulation of these plaques (ath-ur-o-skluh-ROE-sis). Blood flow to the heart and other areas of the body is decreased by atherosclerosis. It may result in a stroke, angina, or a heart attack.
Men and women may experience different symptoms of coronary artery disease. For example, chest pain is more common among men. In addition to chest pain, women are more prone to have nausea, intense exhaustion, and shortness of breath.
Coronary artery disease symptoms include the following:
- Chest discomfort, chest pressure, chest tightness, and chest pain (angina)
- Feeling out of breath
- Back, upper abdomen, throat, jaw, or neck pain
- Discomfort, numbness, tingling, or coolness in the arms or legs if the blood arteries there are constricted
It’s possible that coronary artery disease won’t be identified until after a heart attack, angina, stroke, or heart failure. It’s critical to keep an eye out for cardiac symptoms and talk to your doctor about any concerns. With routine medical exams, heart (cardiovascular) illness may occasionally be detected early.
Heart arrhythmias, or abnormal heartbeats, are signs of heart illness.
The heart could beat abnormally slowly, excessively fast, or too erratically. Symptoms of a heart arrhythmia may include:
- Chest aches or soreness
- Wooziness
- Syncope—a fainting or near-fainting
- Trembling throughout the chest
- Diaphoresis
- Heartbeat that is rapid (tachycardia)
- Feeling out of breath
- Bradycardia, or a slow heartbeat
Symptoms of heart disease brought on by birth abnormalities in the heart
Usually, significant congenital cardiac abnormalities are discovered shortly after delivery. Symptoms of a congenital cardiac problem in children may include:
- Pale lips or skin that is gray or blue (cyanosis)
- Swelling around the eyes, in the tummy, or in the legs
- Breathing difficulties during feedings in a baby, which prevents them from gaining enough weight
It is common for less severe congenital cardiac abnormalities to be undiagnosed until later in childhood or adulthood. Congenital cardiac problems can cause symptoms that are typically not life-threatening right away, such as:
- Breathing difficulties when exercising or doing other physical activity
- Easily fatigued during physical exertion
- Hands, ankles, or feet swelling
Symptoms of heart disease brought on by cardiomyopathy, an illness of the heart muscle
Cardiomyopathy may not exhibit any symptoms in its early stages. When the illness gets worse, symptoms could include:
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting
- Tiredness
- Breathing difficulty while at rest or during an exercise
- Breathing difficulties during the night or having trouble breathing when you wake up
- Heartbeat irregularities that seem fluttering, hammering, or fast
- Swollen ankles, feet, or legs
Symptoms of heart disease brought on by issues with the heart valves (valvular heart disease)
The aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid valves are the four valves in the heart. In order to pump blood through the heart, they open and close. There are numerous ways to harm the heart valves. A heart valve can develop prolapse, regurgitation, or insufficiency, narrowing (stenosis), or leakage (prolapse).
Heart valve disease is another name for valve disease. The following are typical symptoms of cardiac valve disease, depending on which valve isn’t functioning properly:
- Chest ache
- Experiencing syncope
- Tiredness
- Erratic cardiac rhythm
- Feeling out of breathSwollen ankles or feet
When to visit a physician
If any of these signs of heart disease apply to you, get emergency medical attention:
- Chest ache
- Breathlessness and fainting
When in doubt, always dial 911 or seek emergency medical attention if you suspect a heart attack.
Early detection of heart disease makes treatment easier. If you are worried about the health of your heart, consult your physician. Your healthcare practitioner and you can talk about methods to lower your risk of heart disease. If heart disease runs in your family, this is very crucial.
See your provider as soon as possible if you suspect that you may be experiencing heart disease symptoms.
