Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. The presence of certain risk factors, such as obesity or smoking cigarettes, can increase your likelihood of developing heart disease. Symptoms of heart disease can be subtle and may appear only as you are experiencing a heart attack. Even if you experience infrequent symptoms of this condition, speak with your physician or a cardiologist to be evaluated for heart disease.
Frequent Chest Pain
One of the most common symptoms associated with heart disease is chest pain---a condition also referred to as angina or angina pectoris. Symptoms of angina include abnormal sensations of pressure, tightness, aching, fullness or pain within your chest, health professionals at The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio explain. These sensations can also spread from your chest to other regions of your body, including your shoulders, neck or arms.
High Blood Pressure
Heart disease is primarily caused by the buildup of fatty plaques inside the arteries (atherosclerosis), which carry blood away from your heart to the organs, tissues and cells throughout your body. The presence of these plaques within your arteries forces your heart to exert more pressure to pump blood past these fatty deposits, causing damage to your heart muscle. If you have consistently high blood pressure levels (hypertension) your heart muscles are constantly working overtime to pump blood through your body. Increased blood pressure can wear out your heart muscles, which can contribute to symptoms of heart disease.
Breathing Difficulties
Your body organs and tissues need sufficient levels of oxygen in order to function properly. If you have heart disease, it can be difficult for your heart to pump that necessary oxygen throughout your body. If this occurs, you can experience breathing difficulties as your body attempts to pull more oxygen out of the air and into your body. Breathing difficulties can include shortness of breath or struggling for breath after performing normal physical activities, such as climbing a flight of stairs. Such symptoms of heart disease can also be accompanied by lightheadedness, dizziness, headache, anxiety or fainting.
Fatigue
Abnormal fatigue is a common symptom associated with heart disease. Heart damage caused by heart disease makes it harder for your heart to function normally. This can decrease the amount of oxygenated blood that is pumped through your body, preventing your cells and tissues from obtaining the energy they need to support your body's demands. When this occurs, you can experience abnormal or increased fatigue, which can lead to daytime tiredness that interferes with your ability to complete your daily tasks.
If you experience the sudden onset of any of these heart disease symptoms, seek medical care immediately as these symptoms can also be indicative of a heart attack.
