What Is Heart Disease And What Are The Symptoms?

By Lena Stephenson


Heart disease is a general name used for conditions affecting the entire cardiovascular system. The areas affected include the rhythm and blood vessels. There are conditions affecting children and can be detected at birth. A look at these conditions will demystify what is heart disease. The other name used is cardiovascular conditions.

The most common cardiovascular conditions are blocking and narrowing of blood vessels. These conditions lead to pain, heart attacks and stroke in some cases. Conditions affecting the rhythm, valves and cardiovascular muscles are also captured in this category. Good lifestyle choices can prevent the severity of these conditions.

A patient will exhibit symptoms depending on the condition that is manifested. Narrowing, stiffness and blocking of blood vessels means that crucial organs like the brain are denied adequate blood supply. The signs in men might differ slightly with what women display. What is observed in women in most of the cases is nausea, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue.

Weak feet, numbness and cold feet indicate that your cardiovascular system has a problem and therefore is unable to pump blood effectively to the limbs. Cold limbs are an indication of narrow vessels. Other danger signs include painful neck, jaw, throat, neck and upper abdomen. The earliest diagnosis includes heart attack or failure, angina or stroke.

Concern should be raised when the heartbeats are abnormal. They include irregular, slow or fast heartbeats. Lightheadedness, racing heartbeat, chest pain, fluttering and chest discomfort are signs of trouble. Other danger signs are fainting, near fainting and dizziness.

Children at birth are frequently diagnosed with congenital defects. You are likely to observe short breath during exercise or activity, getting tired quickly and swollen feet, ankles and hands. These conditions are not threatening to their life but can get complicated over time. They need to be corrected early enough to ensure normal growth or complications in future.

The causes of weak cardiovascular muscles include stiffness or thickness of the muscles or vessels. It might not be easy to detect the signs at an early age but these signs will become clear as the condition worsens. You are likely to observe dizziness, swollen legs, feet and ankles as well as shortness of breath at rest or with exertion. The head feels light and the patient may occasionally faint.

There are infections that affect the cardiovascular system leading to such symptoms as pericarditis, myocarditis and endocarditis. These conditions affect surrounding tissues, muscles and membranes separating different chambers. The symptoms depend on the type of condition and may include shortness of breath, skin rashes and unusual spots, dry-persistent cough and fatigue or weakness.

Valvular diseases damage muscles and vessels leading to narrow chambers, improper closing or leakage. The symptoms displayed depend on the valve that is affected. Common symptoms are fainting, chest pains, fatigue and short breath.

The common symptoms that should send you to a doctor are short breath, fainting, fatigue and chest pains. Successful treatment can be achieved with early detection. There are lifestyle choices that help to reduce the risk. Discuss your condition with the doctor if your have a family history of cardiovascular diseases.




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