Cardiac disease is a broad phrase that covers a variety of cardiac issues. Cardiovascular disease, which refers to both heart and blood vessel illness, is another name for it. Although heart disease is the primary cause of death in the US, there are ways to manage and prevent many different types of heart disease.
Blood vessel symptoms of heart disease
A common cardiac disorder called coronary artery disease affects the main blood arteries that nourish the heart muscle. Coronary artery disease is typically brought on by cholesterol buildup (plaques) in the heart arteries. Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of these plaques. Reduced blood flow to the heart and other bodily organs is a result of atherosclerosis. It may result in a heart attack, angina, or a stroke.
Male and female symptoms of coronary artery disease may vary. Men are more prone to experience chest discomfort, for example. In addition to chest tightness, women are more prone to have additional symptoms such severe exhaustion, nausea, and shortness of breath.
Coronary artery disease symptoms might include:
- Chest discomfort (angina), tightness, pressure, and pain in the chest
- Breathing difficulty
- Back, neck, jaw, throat, upper belly, or back pain
- If the blood arteries in the legs or arms are constricted, those portions of the body may experience pain, numbness, weakness, or coldness.
It’s possible that coronary artery disease won’t be discovered until after a heart attack, angina, stroke, or heart failure. It’s crucial to keep an eye out for cardiac symptoms and talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. Regular health examinations can potentially detect heart (cardiovascular) illness early.
Heart arrhythmias, which result in symptoms of heart disease,
It’s possible for the heartbeat to be excessively fast, too slow, or irregular. Symptoms of heart arrhythmias might include:
- Chest discomfort or agony
- Dizziness
- Syncope or fainting or almost fainting
- Heart palpitations
- Lightheadedness
- Heartbeat that is quick (tachycardia)
- Breathing difficulty
- (Bradycardia) A slow heartbeat
Congenital cardiac abnormalities lead to the signs of heart disease.
Significant congenital cardiac abnormalities are often discovered shortly after birth. Children with congenital cardiac defects may exhibit the following signs:
- Lips or skin that is pale gray or blue (cyanosis)
- Swelling around the eyes, in the tummy, or in the legs
- Breathlessness during feedings in a baby causes low weight growth.
Congenital cardiac abnormalities that are less significant are frequently not discovered until later in infancy or into maturity. Conspicuously non-life-threatening signs of congenital cardiac abnormalities include:
- Easily becoming out of breath when engaging in an activity
- Easily exhausted during physical activity or exercise
- Hands, ankles, or feet swelling
Heart muscle illness symptoms (cardiomyopathy) are brought on by the condition
Cardiomyopathy’s early stages may not show any symptoms at all. Symptoms that emerge as the illness becomes worse include:
- Unsteadiness, fainting, and dizziness
- Fatigue
- Feeling out of breath whether exercising or just sitting still
- Having trouble breathing when attempting to sleep at night or when you wake up
- Irregular, fast, hammering, or fluttering heartbeats
- Enlarged ankles, feet, or legs
Heart valve issues lead to the symptoms of heart disease.
The aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid valves are the four valves of the heart. To let blood to flow through the heart, they open and close. Heart valves can be harmed by a variety of factors. A heart valve may enlarge, leak, or fail to seal properly.
Heart valve disease is another name for valvular heart disease. The following symptoms of cardiac valve disease often appear depending on which valve isn’t functioning properly:
- Chest discomfort
- Fainting
- Fatigue
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Breathing difficulty
- Enlarged ankles or feet
The inner lining of the heart chambers and heart valves are both impacted by endocarditis, an infection.
Symptoms of endocarditis include:
- A persistent or dry cough
- Fever
- Heart rate variations
- breathing difficulty
- Rashes or odd patches on the skin
Causes
The reasons of a particular form of heart disease vary. Heart disease comes in a variety of forms.
Cardiac valves
The aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid heart valves all work together to maintain proper blood flow. The valves only open in one direction when necessary. Valves must fully open and seal securely to prevent leaks.
Heartbeats
A beating heart continuously cycles via contraction and relaxation.
The ventricles, the lower heart chambers, constrict tightly during this period (systole). Blood is compelled to the lungs and the rest of the body by this movement.
The ventricles fill with blood from the upper heart chambers (atria) during relaxation (diastole).
Electrical apparatus
The electrical circuitry in the heart keeps it beating. The constant interchange of oxygen-rich blood with oxygen-poor blood is managed by the heartbeat. You are kept alive by this transaction.
Right atrium, the upper right chamber, is where electrical transmissions are initiated.
The signals are sent to the ventricles, the lower cardiac chambers, through specific routes. It instructs the heart to beat.
Congenital heart abnormalities’ causes
During the course of a baby’s development in the womb, a congenital heart defect forms. About a month after conception, the baby’s developing heart gives rise to a congenital heart defect. Congenital cardiac abnormalities alter the heart’s blood flow. Congenital cardiac problems are more likely to occur as a result of certain diseases, drugs, and genetic factors.
Risk elements
Age. The risk of damaged and clogged arteries, as well as a weaker or thickening heart muscle, increases with age.
Gender. Men are more likely than women to get heart disease. Women are more vulnerable after menopause.
A family tree. A family history of heart disease raises the chance of coronary artery disease, particularly if a parent had it at a young age (before the age of 55 for a male relative, such as your brother or father, and before the age of 65 for a female relative, such as your mother or sister).
Smoking. Quit smoking if you smoke. Tobacco smoke contains substances that harm the arteries. Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have a heart attack. If you need assistance quitting, speak with your doctor about possible options.
Heart disease – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic