Coronary disease, also referred to as heart disease or coronary heart disease, refers to a number of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels. Heart conditions such as heart attack, heart failure and stroke are leading causes of death in America. Excess body weight, old age, family history of heart disease and inactivity are common risk factors for cardiovascular conditions. If you possess at least one of these risk factors, discuss healthy means of reducing your risk with your doctor. In many cases, a healthy dietary lifestyle coupled with regular physical activity can help prevent serious heart-related illnesses from occurring; however, if you or a loved one exhibits symptoms of coronary disease, seek medical attention promptly.
Angina
Angina, also called chest pain, is the most common symptom of coronary heart disease. According to the Cleveland Clinic, angina may also be described as discomfort, tightness, heaviness, pressure, burning, aching, numbness, fullness or squeezing in the chest and can be mistaken for heartburn or indigestion. In addition to the chest, angina may appear in the left shoulder, arms, back, neck or jaw. If you experience angina for more than five minutes, a common first sign of heart attack, seek immediate medical attention.
Difficulty Breathing
Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath may indicate coronary disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, shortness of breath may result from heart disease that develops in the blood (a condition specifically known as cardiovascular disease) or from abnormal heartbeat (a coronary condition known as heart arrhythmia). Shortness of breath in infants, upon birth or within hours or days later, may indicate heart disease caused by heart defects. Less severe heart defects may go unnoticed into childhood or adulthood. Unusual shortness of breath during physical activities is a common symptom of milder heart defects. Though less serious defects are not immediately life-threatening, symptoms such as difficulty breathing should be discussed with your doctor.
Sudden Numbness
Sudden numbness of the face, arm or leg, particularly on one side of the body, may indicate coronary disease. The American Heart Association indicates that sudden numbness is a primary symptom of stroke, a condition caused when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or greatly reduced. If you or a loved one experiences numbness, sudden confusion or inability to understand others, difficulty seeing through one or both eyes, dizziness or severe headache, seek emergency medical attention promptly.
