Heart disease is the number one killer among men and women in the United States. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of heart disease may save your life or the life of someone you know. It is also important to be able to describe the frequency, severity, intensity and duration of any of the six common signs and symptoms of heart disease to a physician during a check up.
Chest Pain
According to Michael H. Crawford, M.D., author of "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Cardiology," chest pain is one of the most prominent symptoms of heart disease. Ischemic chest pain or angina pectoris are the medical terminologies for chest pain. It originates in the mid-upper chest area, and may radiate outwards to the left or right sides of the chest, the shoulders, jaw, arms and upper back. The pain is deep and intense, but not necessarily excruciating, says Crawford. Patients describe it as feeling an intense pressure or tightness, sometimes comparing it to having the chest in a vise-grip. Triggered by exercise or stress in many cases, chest pain lasts for minutes, or until the physical activity or emotional stimulus is stopped.
Dyspnea
People with heart disease frequently complain of dyspnea, or shortness of breath. There are four common types of dyspnea: exertional dyspnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, resting dyspnea and orthopnea. Exertional dyspnea due to physical activity is the most common, and indicates mild heart disease. Characterized by awakening due to shortness of breath while sleeping, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is indicative of a more serious heart condition. Orthopnea involves losing breath immediately upon lying down, and indicates that the degree of heart disease is severe. The least common, though most serious form of dyspnea, is resting dyspnea. This type of dyspnea indicates severe heart disease.
Syncope
The term "syncope" is used to describe dizziness and feeling light-headed. An underlying cause of this symptom of heart disease is reduction of blood flow to the brain. According to Michael H. Crawford, M.D., heart conditions such as bradycardia and tachycardia, or very low and very high heart rates, respectively, may be the cause of syncope.
Fluid Retention
Retaining water in the abdominals, face and lower legs, also known as edema, may be linked to heart disease. Weight gain, bloating, abdominal pain and noticeable swelling are common signs of fluid retention. This symptom is associated with poor circulation caused by heart diseases such as peripheral artery disease.
Palpitations
Palpitations are unusually forceful or irregular heart beats experienced while resting. People experiencing palpitations may describe it as the heart momentarily stopping, then beating again, or forceful heart beats mixed in with regular heart beats. This type of heart activity is usually brought on by premature ventricular contractions, which may be the result of heart disease, explains Leonard S. Lilly, M.D., author of "Pathophysiology of Heart Disease." Palpitations are also commonly described as "skipped" heart beats.
Coughing
Coughing is normally linked to lung diseases; however, heart disease may be responsible for the lung disease causing the cough. Coughs related to heart disease usually do not produce mucus. Build up of fluid in the lungs as a result of congestive heart failure may cause coughing, says Michael H. Crawford, M.D. Another type of heart disease known as pulmonary hypertension may also result in a cough.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Heart Disease Facts
- "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Cardiology"; Michael H. Crawford, M.D.; 2009
- "Pathophysiology of Heart Disease"; Leonard S. Lilly, M.D.; 2007
