Heart disease is a broad term that relates to a number of diseases that affect the heart. It has been identified as a major cause of death around the world. The most common symptom of this disease include, discomfort in the upper body, breathlessness, and nausea.
There are different types of heart diseases, and each has its own signs. They mainly refer to the damage to heart muscles, or supportive tissues and blood vessels. The ailments manifest due to various causes, which can be fatal, if not diagnosed and treated in time. It is very important to get educated on the causes and symptoms to be able to take timely medical action.
Coronary Artery Disease: This is caused due to the blockage of arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium. The blockage is mainly due to atheromatous plaque lining the inner walls of the blood vessels. It manifests in the form of severe chest pain, heart attack, chest discomfort, aching and burning within the chest cavity, uneasiness in the left shoulder, arms, and back, breathlessness, cold sweat, indigestion, nausea and/or irregular heart beats. In the case of women, a burning sensation in the upper abdomen is felt along with the other signs.
Cardiomyopathy: This is caused due to a deterioration in the function of the myocardium or the heart muscle. The symptoms include, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, fatigue, abnormal heart rhythms, swelling in the legs, tender liver, and arrhythmia. The indicants differ slightly according to the type of cardiomyopathy. The different types include alcoholic cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, hypertensive cardiomyopathy, valvular cardiomyopathy, cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Cardiovascular Disease: Cardiovascular disease refers to specific conditions that affect the complex blood vessel system within the heart. Research reveals that while most women suffer from cardiovascular diseases that affect the blood vessel system, men suffer from implications within the heart muscle. The indicants include, central chest pain, pain in the shoulders and/or arms, sweating, nausea, palpitations, sudden loss of vision, severe headache, and swelling of lower extremities.
Ischemic Heart Disease: This form results due to reduced blood supply to the organ. The signs and symptoms include, pain in the central chest region and left arm, tautness in the chest, sweating, and thickening of the Achilles Tendon.
Heart Failure: In the case of a congestive heart failure or CHF, the damage is caused due to functional cardiac impairment. The heart failure could either be systolic or diastolic. The signs include, shortness of breath, fatigue, nocturnal urination, and swelling of the liver and subsequent abnormality in liver functions.
Hypertensive Heart Disease: It is caused by increased blood pressure that is localized in nature. The condition shows up in the form of related left ventricular hypertrophy, coronary heart disease, hypertensive cardiomyopathy, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Inflammatory Heart Disease: This is caused due to the inflammation of the heart muscle or surrounding tissue. The disease manifests in the form of inflammation of the endocardium and heart valves, inflammatory cardiomegaly and inflammation of the heart muscles.
Valvular Heart Disease: It affects the valves of the heart, tricuspid, pulmonic, mitral, and aortic. The indicants include, fatigue, palpitations, chest pain, sudden bout of coughing, shift in blood pressure, shortness of breath, and swollen feet.
It is essential to bring any one or more of the mentioned symptoms to the attention of your doctor. Neglect only results in a delay in the administration of medication and essential surgery to improve heart health, which could be life-threatening.
