Heart disease is an umbrella term for a group of health conditions that affect the way the heart functions. These conditions include coronary artery disease (CAD), arrhythmia, heart attack, and heart failure, among others. It’s possible to have more than one heart condition at a time.
Heart disease symptoms can vary depending on the specific condition you have. There are some symptoms that several conditions share, such as chest pain, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue. You may not experience any symptoms at all, especially in the early stages of heart disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for males and females in the United States, so it’s important to know the symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About heart disease. Make sure to visit a healthcare provider if you start to notice changes in your health.
Symptoms by Condition
Many heart conditions have some common signs of illness. You can experience different symptoms depending on the type of heart disease you have.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
CAD is the most common type of heart disease and occurs when there’s a blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. These blockages are called plaques.
Plaques are very small in the early stages. They can cause the arteries to become narrower as they get bigger, restricting blood flow to and from the heart. The process of narrowing arteries is called atherosclerosis.
CAD symptoms include:
- Angina, or pain and pressure in your chest, shoulders, neck, arms, stomach, and back
- Cold sweats
- Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or tired
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shortness of breath that worsens with physical activity
Infective Endocarditis (IE)
Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infection of the innermost layer of heart tissue. This layer includes the valves, blood vessels, and heart muscle. Having surgery, injecting certain drugs into your veins, and getting dental procedures can introduce bacteria into the blood that cause this type of infection.
IE symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Fever and chills
- Joint pain
- Night sweats
- Rapid heart rate
- Swelling in the feet and legs
- Weight loss
Arrhythmia
You have an abnormal heart rhythm if you have an arrhythmia. This means your heart beats too fast, too slow, or just irregularly. Some types of arrhythmias may not cause any symptoms at all. Others can be a medical emergency.
Symptoms of some arrhythmias include:
- Alternating slow and fast heart rates
- Anxiety
- Chest pain
- Fainting spells
- Fast heart rate (tachycardia)
- Feeling weak, dizzy, or lightheaded
- Palpitations, or a racing or skipping heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
- Sweating
Heart Failure
Heart failure happens if your heart is not able to pump enough blood that your body needs. This serious condition often requires medical attention, but it does not mean that your heart has stopped beating.
Heart failure symptoms include:
- Confusion or cloudy thinking
- Coughing or wheezing that won’t go away
- Fatigue
- Feeling nauseous
- Fluid or water retention that causes swelling in the hands and feet (edema)
- Lack of appetite
- Rapid heart rate
- Shortness of breath that worsens when lying down or exerting yourself
Heart Valve Disease
There are three primary kinds of valve problems:
- Atresia: The valve is not constructed properly, leaving no open space for blood to flow
- Regurgitation: The valve does not close properly, causing blood to leak and flow backward
- Stenosis: The valve becomes stiff and does not open wide enough for proper blood flow
The heart typically has four valves that keep blood flowing in the right direction. Symptoms can differ based on what valve is not working properly.
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