Symptoms of Different Heart Diseases
Written By: Ayan Ansari
Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. Diseases under the heart disease umbrella include blood vessel diseases such as coronary artery disease,heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), and heart defects you’re born with (congenital heart defects), among others. According to MAYO Clinic The term “heart disease” is often used interchangeably with the term “cardiovascular disease.” Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as those that affect your heart’s muscle, valves, or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease.
Symptoms of heart disease in your blood vessels (atherosclerotic disease) include the following: chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina), shortness of breath, pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms if the blood vessels in those parts of your body are narrowed, and pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back. According to MAYO Clinic, “You might not be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease until you have a heart attack, angina, stroke or heart failure. It’s important to watch for cardiovascular symptoms and discuss concerns with your doctor. Cardiovascular disease can sometimes be found early with regular evaluations.”
Symptoms of heart disease caused by abnormal heartbeats (heart arrhythmias) include the following: fluttering in your chest, racing heartbeat (tachycardia), slow heartbeat (bradycardia), chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting (syncope) or near fainting. Abnormal heartbeats are very common, and they usually occur when electrical impulses in the heart don’t work properly.
Symptoms of heart disease due to heart defects when born with it include the following in
children: pale gray or blue skin color (cyanosis), swelling in the legs, abdomen or areas around the eyes. In an infant, shortness of breath during feedings, leading to poor weight gain. According to MAYO Clinic, “Less serious congenital heart defects are often not diagnosed until later in childhood or during adulthood. Signs and symptoms of congenital heart defects that usually aren’t immediately life-threatening include: easily getting short of breath during exercise or activity, easily tiring during exercise or activity, swelling in the hands, ankles or feet.”
Heart disease symptoms are caused by weak heart muscle (dilated cardiomyopathy);
In early stages of cardiomyopathy, you may have no symptoms. As the condition worsens, symptoms may include breathlessness with exertion or at rest, swelling of the legs, ankles and feet, fatigue, irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering, dizziness, lightheadedness and/or fainting.
Heart disease symptoms caused by valvular heart disease.The heart has four valves — the aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid valves — that open and close to direct blood flow through your heart. Valves may be damaged by a variety of conditions leading to narrowing (stenosis), leaking (regurgitation or insufficiency), or improper closing (prolapse). Depending on which valve isn’t working properly, valvular heart disease symptoms generally include fatigue, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, swollen feet or ankles, chest pain, fainting (syncope).
