Heart Disease Symptoms

Sponsored Links

Different heart diseases have different heart disease symptoms, although most heart diseases may have warning signs that are similar. The heart disease symptoms you experience can vary widely based on the severity and type of heart condition you are suffering from. Learning to recognize heart disease symptoms could save your life, so it’s important to be aware of what to look for.

Coronary artery disease will most commonly cause pain in the chest, known as angina. Angina can cause a wide range of symptoms including feelings of pressure, burning, squeezing or any other pain in the chest. Indigestion and heartburn can sometimes cause similar symptoms as angina. Although angina is normally felt in the chest it can also be felt in the shoulders, arms, throat, jaw and back. Other heart disease symptoms associated with coronary artery disease include a shortness of breath, dizziness, irregular heart beat (your heart skips a beat), sweating and even nausea.

A heart attack is another serious heart disease that can be life threatening. Symptoms can start out mild and progress in intensity over time. Heart attack symptoms are typically felt for 30 minutes or longer and won’t be relieved by resting or taking medication. Heart disease symptoms associated with a heart attack include extreme weakness, rapid or irregular heartbeat, nausea, sweating, vomiting and extreme burning or pain in the chest just below the breastbone. If you believe you are suffering from a heart attack call for emergency help immediately and chew an aspirin, letting it soak in below your tongue.

A heart arrhythmia is another form of heart disease which is defined as an abnormal heart rhythm. They can have many of the same classic heart disease symptoms as the diseases listed above. These symptoms can include palpitations, pounding in the chest, fainting, dizziness and fatigue. It’s important to consult with a physician if you believe you may have any type of heart disease symptoms. Only a doctor can help determine the type of heart disease you may have and a proper course of treatment.

Heart valve disease can cause many similar heart disease symptoms as well which include shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, and palpitations. The symptoms of heart valve disease don’t really do it justice. Sometimes you won’t even have any symptoms at all with heart valve disease yet be close to complete heart failure. In the case of a mitral valve prolapsed you may even be diagnosed with a minor valve problem which is actually much more serious.

Congenital heart defects can also lead to heart disease symptoms in adults, children and infants. It’s possible to have a heart defect with no symptoms at all, which can make congenital heart defects extremely dangerous. Symptoms generally include a shortness of breath and a limited ability to sustain physical activity.

Pericarditis is another condition that can cause heart disease symptoms. Pericarditis can cause chest pains similar to the ones caused by angina, but more localized. The pain can be felt in the middle of the chest and can radiate outward to the arms and neck. The pain can be made worse depending on what position you are in, which distinguishes it from angina which is a more general pain felt in any position. Pericarditis is caused by inflammation of the sac-like covering that’s around the heart.

If heart disease symptoms are left untreated they can ultimately lead to heart failure. Heart failure has many of the classic symptoms like dizziness and fatigue but also have some unique characteristics. Heart failure can cause you to cough up thick white mucus and can cause you to rapidly gain weight. It also causes swelling, mostly in the ankles, legs and abdomen.  The heart disease symptoms caused by heart failure should never be ignored and require immediate medical attention.