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What symptoms of heart disease indicate serious or advanced stage?

What symptoms of heart disease indicate serious or advanced stage?

Introduction

Some symptoms of heart disease may clearly be an indication of advanced stage. Awareness and identification of these symptoms of heart disease can help save lives. Many people tragically lose their lives due to their inability to identify these symptoms. Identification of these symptoms can ensure that the person receives timely treatment. Similarly, identification of symptoms in children will also help extend timely treatment before the disease progresses.

Early detection of the condition through advanced genetic testing can also help predict future or lifetime risk of disease from genetic reasons. For instance, people may genetically inherit certain conditions or may also be afflicted due to congenital defects. Genetic testing facilities in Tamilnadu help to detect these conditions, ensuring that the person receives timely treatment.

What are the common symptoms of heart disease in child?

Children exhibit or experience symptoms of heart disease depending on the nature of the condition and its severity. Commonly observed symptoms of heart disease in children include the following:

  1. Cyanosis – a bluish appearance in the skin, lips, or nails, due to poor oxygenation of the blood. This is the result of congenital heart defects.
  2. Difficulty breathing –or rapid, shallow breathing due affected flow of blood. This is a result of heart failure or congenital heart defects.
  3. Abnormal tiredness – children may be extremely tired or may have very poor energy levels due to poor pumping of the heart. This affects oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues.
  4. Swelling – also known as edema, this is observed in the legs, ankles, or feet. This is due to possible heart failure or fluid retention from heart health issues.
  5. Palpitations – refer to rapid or irregular heartbeats, due to a condition known as arrhythmias or due to other heart rhythm disorders.
  6. Pain in the chest – or discomfort in the chest, experienced as some kind of abnormal pressure. This is due to different heart conditions, but is not common in young children. 
  7. Poor Growth – when the child does not grow normally or does not proportionate gain weight. This is because heart disease affects overall health, impacting growth.
  8. Dizzy feelings – also known as syncope, children may experience episodes of lightheadedness. This is due to irregular heart rhythms or reduced blood flow.
  9. Abnormal sounds in the heart – murmurs heard through a stethoscope indicate underlying heart conditions. However, all murmurs are not a sign of heart disease.

Are the symptoms of heart disease in women different from that of men?

Some of the symptoms of heart disease in women differ from that of men. These atypical symptoms often affect treatment and diagnosis. Here is a look at symptoms of heart disease that differ in women:

Symptoms in Women

  •       Chest – women experience discomfort in the chest instead of severe pain. This is more like pressure, or a squeezing sensation or a full feeling instead of sharp pain.
  •       Breathlessness – difficulty breathing may occur even without pain in the chest and may be experienced during rest or even with light physical activities.
  •       Fatigue – unusual fatigue may be experienced even without physical exertion.
  •       Nausea, vomiting – women experience more of these symptoms, including possible indigestion. 
  •       Pain in the Back – this may be experienced like pain radiating to the back, neck, jaw, or shoulders instead of only the left arm.
  •       Unexplained symptoms – certain symptoms may not be very intense, such as dizzy feelings, or lightheadedness. There could be a general feeling of unease.
  •       Sleep – may be affected in women with heart disease.

·        Cold sweat – may be experienced by women without accompanying chest pain.

What are the common symptoms of rheumatic heart disease across genders?

Rheumatic heart disease arises mainly as a complication of rheumatic fever. These symptoms of heart disease may vary and depend on the severity and specific valves affected. Commonly reported symptoms of rheumatic heart disease include:

  •       Pain in the chest or discomfort.
  •       Difficulty breathing.
  •       Overall fatigue.
  •       Swelling in the feet.
  •       Abnormal heartbeats.
  •       Fever and pain in the joints.
  •       Murmurs in the heart.
  •       Sudden weight gain.

·        Coughing, wheezing.

What are the signs of heart disease from alcohol?

Excessive alcohol consumption can affect the heart in different ways, result in heart disease. Signs and symptoms of heart disease due to alcohol abuse include:

  •       Irregular heartbeat.
  •       High blood pressure. 
  •       Heart failure.
  •       Pain in the chest or discomfort.
  •       Weakness.
  •       Swelling.
  •       Weight Gain.
  •       Breathlessness.
  •       Dizzy feelings.

·        Jaundice.

Which sign of heart disease indicates a very advanced stage?

Certain signs and symptoms of heart disease indicate an advanced stage of the condition. These may severely affect heart function and include the following:

  •       Severe difficulty breathing – also known as dyspnea, this may be experienced even while resting or with simple exertion. This is due to advanced heart failure or fluid accumulation in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema.
  •       Extreme weakness and tiredness – affecting daily activities and does not resolve with rest. This is due to severely affected heart function and poor oxygen delivery to tissues.
  •       Severe swelling – known as edema, this is visible in the legs, ankles, feet, abdomen, or other parts of the body. This is due to advanced stage of heart failure or severe fluid retention when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently.
  •       Pain in the chest or discomfort – This could be felt like persistent or severe pain, even when there is no physical exertion. This could indicate advanced staged of coronary artery disease or advanced heart disease leading causing angina or myocardial infarction. 
  •       Fainting – also known as syncope, this could be frequent. This is due to severe arrhythmias or advanced heart failure.
  •       Coughing up blood – known as hemoptysis, the patient may cough up blood or sputum laced with blood. This is due to severe pulmonary congestion or advanced heart failure.
  •       Weight gain – due to fluid retention, indicates advanced heart failure. 
  •       Difficulty during sleep – known as orthopnea, the person may experience difficulty breathing when lying flat.  This due to severe pulmonary congestion and heart failure.
  •       Severe arrhythmias – are life-threatening irregular heartbeats due to advanced structural or electrical abnormalities in the heart.

·        Organ dysfunction – like liver dysfunction or kidney failure, may indicate severe heart failure affecting circulation.

November 14, 2024 heart disease