Types of heart disease
Symptoms of heart disease
Heart disease symptoms in women
Causes
Risk factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Heart disease prevention
Heart disease lifestyle changes
Heart disease and hypertension
Is there a cure for heart disease?
What are the symptoms of heart disease?
Different types of heart disease may result in a variety of different symptoms.
Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms. The symptoms you experience may depend on the type of arrhythmia you have — heartbeats that are too fast or too slow. Symptoms of an arrhythmia include:
lightheadedness
fluttering heart or racing heartbeat
slow pulse
fainting spells
dizziness
chest pain
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis reduces blood supply to your extremities. In addition to chest pain and shortness of breath, symptoms of atherosclerosis include:
coldness, especially in the limbs
numbness, especially in the limbs
unusual or unexplained pain
weakness in your legs and arms
Congenital heart defects
Congenital heart defects are heart problems that develop when a fetus is growing. Some heart defects are never diagnosed. Others may be found when they cause symptoms, such as:
blue-tinged skin
swelling of the extremities
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
fatigue and low energy
irregular heart rhythm
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
CAD is plaque buildup in the arteries that move oxygen-rich blood through the heart and lungs. Symptoms of CAD include:
chest pain or discomfort
a feeling of pressure or squeezing in the chest
shortness of breath
nausea
feelings of indigestion or gas
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease that causes the muscles of the heart to grow larger and turn rigid, thick, or weak. Symptoms of this condition include:
fatigue
bloating
swollen legs, especially ankles and feet
shortness of breath
pounding or rapid pulse
Heart infections
The term heart infection may be used to describe conditions such as endocarditis or myocarditis. Symptoms of a heart infection include:
chest pain
chest congestion or coughing
fever
chills
skin rash
Read more about the signs and symptoms of heart disease.
What are the symptoms of heart disease in women?
Women often experience different signs and symptoms of heart disease than men, specifically with regards to CAD and other cardiovascular diseases.
In fact, a 2003 study looked at the symptoms most often seen in women who’d experienced a heart attack. The top symptoms didn’t include “classic” heart attack symptoms such as chest pain and tingling. Instead, the study reported that women were more likely to say they experienced anxiety, sleep disturbances, and unusual or unexplained fatigue.
What’s more, 80 percent of the women in the study reported experiencing these symptoms for at least one month before their heart attack occurred.
Symptoms of heart disease in women can also be confused with other conditions, such as depression, menopause, and anxiety.
Common heart disease symptoms in women include:
dizziness
paleness
shortness of breath or shallow breathing
lightheadedness
fainting or passing out
anxiety
nausea
vomiting
jaw pain
neck pain
back pain
indigestion or gaslike pain in the chest and stomach
cold sweats
Read more about the common signs and symptoms of heart disease in women — and find out why many women say they wouldn’t call 911 if they thought they were having a heart attack.
What causes heart disease?
Heart disease is a collection of diseases and conditions that cause cardiovascular problems. Each type of heart disease is caused by something entirely unique to that condition. Atherosclerosis and CAD result from plaque buildup in the arteries. Other causes of heart disease are described below.
Arrhythmia causes
Causes of an abnormal heart rhythm include:
diabetes
CAD
heart defects, including congenital heart defects
medications, supplements, and herbal remedies
high blood pressure (hypertension)
excessive alcohol or caffeine use
substance use disorders
stress and anxiety
existing heart damage or disease
Congenital heart defect causes
This heart disease occurs while a baby is still developing in the womb. Some heart defects may be serious and diagnosed and treated early. Some may also go undiagnosed for many years.
Your heart’s structure can also change as you age. This can create a heart defect that may lead to complications and problems.
Cardiomyopathy causes
Several types of cardiomyopathy exist. Each type is the result of a separate condition.
Dilated cardiomyopathy. It’s unclear what causes this most commonTrusted Source type of cardiomyopathy, which leads to a weakened heart. It may be the result of previous damage to the heart, such as the kind caused by drugs, infections, and heart attack. It may also be an inherited condition or the result of uncontrolled blood pressure.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This type of heart disease leads to a thicker heart muscle. It’s usually inherited.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy. It’s often unclear what leads to this type of cardiomyopathy, which results in rigid heart walls. Possible causes may include scar tissue buildup and a type of abnormal protein buildup known as amyloidosis.
Heart infection causes Bacteria, parasites, and viruses are the most common causes of heart infections. Uncontrolled infections in the body can also harm the heart if they’re not properly treated.
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