Symptoms of Heart Disease

There are different types of heart diseases and each has its own signs and symptoms. Heart diseases mainly refer to damage to the heart muscles or supportive tissues and blood vessels. The ailments manifest due to various different causes and can all be fatal if not diagnosed and treated in time. It is very important to get educated on the causes and symptoms to be able to take timely medical action.

Coronary Artery Disease: This heart disease is caused due to the blockage of arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium. The blockage is mainly due to atheromatous plaque lining the inner walls of the blood vessels. This heart disease manifests in the form of severe chest pain, heart attack, chest discomfort, aching and burning within the chest cavity, uneasiness in the left shoulder, arms and back, breathlessness, cold sweat, indigestion, nausea and/or irregular heart beats. In the case of women, a burning sensation in the upper abdomen is felt along with the other symptoms.

Cardiomyopathy: This heart disease is caused due to a deterioration in the function of the myocardium or the heart muscle. The symptoms include shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, abnormal heart rhythms, swelling in the legs, tender liver and arrhythmia. The symptoms of this heart disease differs slightly according to the type of cardiomyopathy. The different types include alcoholic cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, ischaemic cardiomyopathy, hypertensive cardiomyopathy, valvular cardiomyopathy, cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Cardiovascular Disease: Cardiovascular disease refers to specific diseases that affect the complex blood vessel system within the heart. Research reveals that while most women suffer from cardiovascular diseases that affect the blood vessel system, men suffer from implications within the heart muscle. The symptoms of this heart disease include central chest pain, pain in the shoulders and/or arms, sweating, nausea, palpitations, sudden loss of vision, severe headache and swelling of lower extremities.

Ischaemic Heart Disease: This heart disease results due to reduced blood supply to the organ. The signs and symptoms include pain in the central chest region and left arm, tautness in the chest, sweating and thickening of the Achilles Tendon.

Heart Failure: In the case of a congestive heart failure or CHF, the damage is caused due to functional cardiac impairment. The heart failure could either be systolic or diastolic. The signs include shortness of breath, fatigue, nocturnal urination and swelling of the liver and subsequent abnormality in liver functions.

Hypertensive Heart Disease: This heart disease is caused by increased blood pressure that is localized in nature. The disease shows up in the form of related left ventricular hypertrophy, coronary heart disease, hypertensive cardiomyopathy and cardiac arrhythmias.

Inflammatory Heart Disease: Inflammatory heart disease is caused due to the inflammation of the heart muscle or surrounding tissue. The disease manifests in the form of inflammation of the endocardium and heart valves, inflammatory cardiomegaly and inflammation of the heart muscles.

Valvular Heart Disease: Valvular heart disease affects the valves of the heart, tricuspid, pulmonic, mitral and aortic. The symptoms include fatigue, palpitations, chest pain, sudden bout of coughing, shift in blood pressure, shortness of breath and swollen feet.

It is essential to bring any one or more of the mentioned symptoms to the attention of your doctor. Neglect only results in a delay in the administration of medication and essential surgery to improve heart health, which could be life threatening.