Heart Diseases Everyone Needs To Know About

Numerous types of heart disease exist, but many exhibit similar or the exact same symptoms. Some of the major types of heart disease include coronary artery disease, heart attack, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, heart valve disease, heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Keep reading to learn the facts about the different types of heart disease an individual can develop within their lifetime.

Coronary Artery Disease

The primary symptom of coronary artery disease is chest pain or angina pain. Many patients describe angina pain as a feeling of heaviness, discomfort, pressure, aching, squeezing or burning in the chest, and can be mistaken for a heart attack. Angina also frequently masquerades as heartburn. These uncomfortable feelings may also occur in the jaw, back, neck or throat. The symptoms of coronary artery disease also include difficulty breathing, heart palpitations or a faster heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and weakness.

Next, discover the warning signs of myocardial infarction, or a heart attack.

Myocardial Infarction Or Heart Attack

Symptoms of myocardial infarction, or commonly known as a heart attack, include discomfort in the chest that starts out gradual and becomes more uncomfortable and intense within thirty minutes or so. This pain is often described as a tightness or pain felt within the chest, and can also be a squeezing or aching sensation in the arms, neck, jaw, or back as well. Unfortunately, rest or oral medications will not substantially ease the chest pain an individual may be experiencing. In certain circumstances, a heart attack can occur without any noticeable symptoms, especially if the patient has diabetes. Other common symptoms of a heart attack include nausea, indigestion, heartburn, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, a cold sweat, fatigue, and lightheadedness. If an individual believes they are experiencing a heart attack, they should dial 911 or emergency services immediately, as early treatment of a heart attack lessens the amount of damage done to the heart.

Continue reading to reveal the symptoms of arrhythmia right away.

Arrhythmia

On average, the heart beats between sixty to eighty times per minute. A heart arrhythmia, commonly known as an irregular heartbeat or cardiac dysrhythmia, is when the heart beats irregularly, whether it beats too fast or too slow. A slow heartbeat is called a bradycardia where the heart beats less than sixty times per minute, and a fast heartbeat is a tachycardia where the heart beats more than eighty times per minute. Common symptoms of a heart arrhythmia include feeling an unusual beating in the chest cavity, such as the heart pounding, flopping or jumping profusely, dizziness, fainting or passing out, and shortness of breath. Patients may also experience uncomfortable chest pain, similar to angina pain, along with constant fatigue. If a patient believes their heartbeat may be unusual or irregular, especially if they have noticed it for a period of time, they should consult their doctor to have the proper tests performed.

Keep reading to uncover what an atrial fibrillation is and its symptoms now.

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs when the heart beats irregularly, similar to arrhythmia. When comparing the symptoms of atrial fibrillation and arrhythmia, numerous similarities can be noticed, hence why knowing how both conditions are similar and different is essential. For instance, atrial fibrillation can lead to various complications, such as blood clots, a stroke, and heart failure. Individuals suffering from atrial fibrillation can experience specific symptoms such as the racing, pounding or fluttering of the heart, constant tiredness and fatigue, lightheadedness or sudden dizziness, distressing pain in the chest, and difficulty breathing upon performing routine daily activities and becoming short of breath. Individuals should have their heart checked regularly, and if they are experiencing an irregular heartbeat, should consult their doctor to determine if it is an arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation, as AF is more serious than a heart arrhythmia.

Next, find out what heart valve disease is and the complications associated with it.

Heart Valve Disease

Heart valve damage is the primary cause of heart valve disease, and this condition can also result in heart failure if left untreated. Heart valve disease can be characterized as one or all four heart valves being stenotic, meaning hardened and restricting blood flow, where the valves function insufficiently or "leak". Common signs and symptoms of heart valve disease include shortness of breath, constant dizziness and fatigue, an intense pressure or weight that is felt in the chest, and experiencing irregular heartbeats. Unfortunately, if heart valve disease causes the heart to fail, additional symptoms may be felt, such as swelling or edema in the feet and lower legs, abdominal swelling, rapid weight gain of two or three pounds in one day, and fainting.

Continue reading to learn the truth about heart failure and how that affects the patient.

Heart Failure

Symptoms of heart failure alone cannot indicate whether an individual's heart muscle has become weakened due to heart disease, or the amount of weakening of the heart itself, as there are various causes of heart failure. Common symptoms of heart failure include having trouble breathing during activity or at rest, shortness of breath noticeably becomes worse when lying flat in bed, having a cough that produces white mucous, rapid weight gain of two or three pounds in one day, and edema or swelling in the abdomen, ankles, or legs. Other signs include chronic fatigue, fainting, nausea, rapid heart palpitations, and chest pain. If an individual shows any of these signs and is at risk for heart failure, contact emergency services immediately, as it may save their life.

Finally, discover what congenital heart disease is and its warning signs.

Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart problems can be diagnosed while an infant is in utero, during childhood or when the person becomes an adult. While congenital heart disease may display no sudden symptoms, over time noticeable symptoms may appear and include shortness of breath, an inability to exercise, and similar symptoms of heart failure or heart disease. Congenital heart disease also displays specific signs, such as a bluish tint to the lips, skin, and fingers, rapid breathing, abnormal heart rhythms, trouble eating, a consistent weight or sudden weight loss, frequent lung infections, being unable to exercise, and swelling or edema of body tissue and organs.

If a patient experiences any of these symptoms in relation to any of these conditions, they should get themselves checked out immediately and monitor their heart for further prevention of these diseases.