Symptoms of Heart Disease & Their Types

The symptoms for cardiovascular diseases might not be the same for both men and women. In this regard, men are usually seen experiencing chest pain while women suffer from various symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea and extreme fatigue. The disease usually takes place due to narrowed, stiffened or blocked vessels that prevent the heart, brain or other body parts from getting sufficient blood.

Cardiovascular Disease Symptoms

The symptoms usually depend on the type of heart disease the individual is suffering from. Check out some common symptoms that are specific for each kind.

Heart disease symptoms in blood vessels

Also known as atherosclerotic disease, the symptoms are:

• Chest pain or angina

• Shortness of breath

• Pain in the neck, jaws, throat, abdomen or back

• Numbness, coldness, weakness or pain in the legs or arms if the blood vessels ae narrow in those body parts

Heart disease symptoms due to abnormal heartbeats

The heart may beat too slowly, too irregularly or too quickly in case of heart arrhythmias. Some of the symptoms include:

• Fluttering in the chest

• Racing heartbeat or tachycardia

• Dizziness

• Shortness of breath

• Slow heartbeat or bradycardia

• Chest pain and discomfort

• Lightheadedness

• Fainting

Heart disease symptoms that occur due to heart defects

Serious heart defects that are inherited are usually seen immediately after labor. These symptoms in children might consist of:

• Pale grey or blue skin color (cyanosis)

• Swelling in the legs, abdomen or parts around your eyes

• For baby, breathless while feeding thus, leading to weight gain

Cardiovascular disease due to weak heart muscle

Cardiomyopathy is the thickening and stiffening of heart muscles. An individual might not have any symptoms in the early stages of the disease, however as the disease becomes worse, some symptoms include:

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Breathlessness

• Lightheadedness

• Fainting

• Irregular heartbeats

• Swelling of legs, ankles and feet

Heart disease that occur due to heart infections

There are three kinds of heart infections:

• Myocarditis: This affects the muscular central part of the walls of heart(myocardium).

• Pericarditis: This influences the tissues of the heart (pericardium).

• Endocarditis: This will affect the inner membrane that separates the chambers and valves of the heart (endocardium).

Some symptoms of heart infection include:

• Fever

• Shortness of breath

• Dry cough

• Swelling in the legs or abdomen

• Skin rashes or unusual spots

• Changes in the rhythm of heart

• Weakness or fatigue

Your doctor may not diagnose you with heart disease until you have a stroke, angina or heart attack. It is necessary to see cardiovascular symptoms and discuss them with the doctor to prevent such occurrences. With regular exams and proper tests, heart disease can be diagnosed at an early stage and it can be treated on time. Thus, if you have any concerns about your cardiovascular health, consult with your private gp at Medical Express Clinic and lessen the risks associated with different types of cardiovascular disease.