SYMPTOMS OF HEART DISEASE (Dr. Ganesh Krishnan Iyer)

 The heart is one of the most essential organs for people. It works as an engine of our body. The heart pumps blood through a ninety-seven-thousand-kilometer-long network of blood vessels. It beats more than 100,000 times a day, clogging more than three billion heartbeats over an average lifetime. It supplies oxygen-rich blood to all the tissues and clears away harmful waste.

By keeping our hearts in good shape, we stress less. Here are the two important ways to do this:

1.       Maintaining a healthy lifestyle

2.       Understanding of symptoms that may signal underlying heart disease

Heart disease can be caused by several different conditions. These conditions include:

·         Coronary artery disease – diseases involving blood vessels of the heart

·         Arrhythmias- Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)

·         Congenital heart defects or defects present from birth

·         Heart valve disease like Atrial Stenosis, Mitral Valve stenosis

·         Heart muscle disease or cardiomyopathy

·         Heart infection like infective endocarditis

Symptoms of heart disease

The symptoms of heart disease vary in onset and type, largely dependent on the type and severity of the disease. One or more of the following symptoms may be present:

Symptoms of disease in heart’s blood vessels:

Fatty plaques that build up inside arteries could lead to a number of adverse outcomes. For example, they can affect the functionality of the heart and blood vessels thus significantly amplifying the risk of coronary artery disease or stroke.

The symptoms of coronary artery disease can often be very different for women and men. Coronary artery disease in men, particularly the heart attacks caused by it, is most often characterized by chest pain as the most prominent symptom. Although this is also a common symptom for women who have coronary artery diseases, they are more likely to experience other symptoms as well such as shortness of breath, nausea, and feeling rundown and tired all the time.

Signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease can include:

·         Chest pain and discomfort

·         Feeling of tightness and pressure in the chest.

·         Shortness of breath

·         Pain, numbness, and coldness in your legs or arms

·         Pain in the jaw, neck, throat, back, or upper abdomen

·         In many cases, coronary artery disease remains undetected until a person has suffered a heart attack or stroke. Awareness about the symptoms of coronary artery disease can help you stop it in its tracks by bringing it to the attention of your doctor as early on as possible.

Symptoms of heart disease involving abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmias

Arrhythmia can make an individual’s heartbeat race or become too slow. Some common signs and symptoms that someone may have the condition include:

·         Tachycardia or faster heartbeat

·         Bradycardia or slower heartbeat

·         Fluttering in the chest

·         Pain or discomfort in the chest

·         Shortness of breath

·         Light-headedness

·         Dizziness or fainting

Symptoms of heart disease involving congenital heart defects

Doctors can usually notice the more severe forms of congenital heart defects soon after birth.

·         Bluish or greyish discoloration of the skin (cyanosis)

·         Swelling around the eyes

·         Swelling in legs or abdomen

·         Shortness of breath

·         Poor weight gain

Mild forms of congenital heart defects may not be picked up until later in life.

Signs and symptoms of benign forms of congenital heart defects include:

·         Shortness of breath during exercise or activity

·         Fatigue and malaise

·         Swelling in the hands, ankles, or feet

Symptoms of disease involving heart muscles

Cardiomyopathy may manifest itself in the early stages with very mild symptoms. At this point, it may be difficult to detect. As the disease progresses and worsens, symptoms become more severe.

Some of the symptoms of cardiomyopathy are:

·         Breathlessness

·         Swelling in ankles and feet

·         Fatigue

·         Irregular heartbeats

·         Rapid, pounding or fluttering heartbeat

·         Dizziness,

·         Light-headedness

·         Fainting

Signs and symptoms of heart infection or endocarditis

The disease affects the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves.

Heart infection signs and symptoms can include:

·         Fever

·         Shortness of breath

·         Fatigue and weakness

·         Swelling in legs or abdomen

·         Irregular heartbeat

·         Dry or persistent cough

·         Unusual spots or rashes on the skin

Signs and Symptoms of heart valve diseases

The four heart valves — the aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid valves direct blood flow through the heart. Some common conditions related to heart valves are:

·         Narrowing of heart valves (stenosis)

·         Heart valve leakage (regurgitation or insufficiency)

·         Improper closing of valves(prolapse).

Some of the common signs and symptoms of valvular heart diseases are:

·         Fatigue and malaise

·         Irregular heartbeat

·         Chest pain

·         Shortness of breath

·         Swelling in feet or ankles

·         Fainting

Always remember that early detection is key to leading a healthy life. Early detection will present you with better treatment options, which means you will recover much faster on the whole. Risk factors for heart disease include being overweight, excessive alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity - so make sure to exercise more often because it can only benefit your heart in the long run!

If you feel that you have heart disease, make an appointment with the Best Cardiothoracic Surgeon in India immediately.

Dr. Ganesh Krishnan Iyer | MBBS, MS, MCh. Lead Consultant - CTVS Surgery