Which symptoms of heart disease need immediate action?
Which Symptoms Of Heart Disease Need Immediate Action?
Introduction
Awareness of the common symptoms typically experienced before or during a heart attack is relatively high. However, many people still remain unaware of the symptoms of heart disease that require urgent action and intervention. For instance, pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, losing consciousness, and radiating pain are all indications of an urgent need for action. Let us look at some of the symptoms of other related heart diseases and conditions.
What Are The Sign And Symptoms Of Rheumatic Heart Disease?
This is a chronic condition arising after a complication of rheumatic fever, due to untreated or improperly managed strep throat infections. This condition mainly afflicts the valves of the heart, resulting in damage to the heart’s valves and affecting its function. Common symptoms of heart disease belonging to this category include:
- Extreme tiredness and weakness – even when there is very less physical activity.
- Difficulty breathing – when exercising or while resting.
- Pain or discomfort in the chest – experienced like a tightening sensation or excessive pressure in the chest.
- Swelling – in the legs, or the ankles.
- Irregular heartbeats – felt like a pounding sensation or rapid and fluttering heartbeats.
- Fainting – due to poor blood circulation and valve obstruction.
- Fever and pain in the joints – is experienced when rheumatic fever is still active.
- Coughing up blood – may be observed when cough is persistent.
- Heart murmurs – observed during examination with stethoscope.
What Are The Uncommon Symptoms Of Congenital Heart Disease?
This refers to structural defects in the heart from birth. Most symptoms of heart disease of this category are relatively common, such as bluish appearance of skin, fast paced breathing, and lesser than desired growth. However, certain subtle symptoms may not be noticed or may be wrongly understood, resulting in possible delayed treatment. Here are some of the uncommon symptoms that you need to be on the look-out:
- Repeated bouts of headache – may be experienced as a result of irregular blood flow or lower oxygen levels.
- Clubbing of fingers – as a result of long term deficit in oxygen, the fingertips and toes may appear swollen or round.
- Fatigue – may be experienced even when partaking in routine activities. This is abnormal, and due to lesser oxygenated blood in the muscles.
- Fainting – may be temporary in nature, especially during physical activity. This is as a result of poor circulation or arrhythmias attributed to structural defects.
- Feeding challenges – may be encountered in infants, causing lesser than required weight gain.
- Gastrointestinal problems – due to lesser blood flow in the digestive system can result in possible nausea, and pain in the abdomen.
- Difficulty in focusing – may be observed in patients with CHD. This could be memory issues, confusion, or challenges in concentrating.
- Sweating – may be profuse and without any reason, especially during feeding or mild activity.
- frequent infections – may be experienced as a result of abnormal blood flow in the lungs.
- Changes in skin color – may be noticed in patients with CHD. For instance, the skin may appear pale, discolored, reddish in appearance or the typical bluish tint.
Patients who need confirmation of genetically inherited conditions or congenital conditions can turn to advanced genetic testing facilities in Tamilnadu. Tests that analyse blood or saliva samples reveal detailed information about possible conditions. This can help to either rule out or confirm any suspected condition.
Which Symptoms Of Heart Disease In Men Are Different From That Of Women?
Some of the symptoms of heart disease in men are different from that of women. This makes it necessary to be clearly informed, to help positively recognize symptoms and initiate suitable remedial measures. Here are the major differences in symptoms between men and women:
- Pain in the chest – This is the most common symptom and men experience this as intense pain or pressure. This may spread to the left arm, neck, or jaw. Women experience this chest pain in a milder form like tightness or discomfort.
- Radiating pain – Men experience this as pain that radiates to the left arm and the jaw. Women experience this as pain in the back, neck, shoulder, or upper abdomen.
- Difficulty breathing – Men feel breathless during limited physical activity. Women feel breathless even while resting.
- Overall tiredness – Men feel tired after limited activity as a result of reduced blood flow. Women experience this even when there is no physical exertion.
- Nausea, Indigestion – Men do not typically experience this, and may feel this only when there is a severe heart problem. Women experience this commonly, and are often wrongly misinterpreted as acid reflux.
- Irregular heartbeats – Men do not experience this primarily. Women are more likely to experience changes in heart beats.
What Are The Atypical Symptoms Of Heart Valve Disease?
This refers to the condition when valves in the heart function improperly, affecting flow of blood. There are typical symptoms such as pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, and overall fatigue. However, there are some symptoms of heart disease of this category that are not common or typical. Here is a look at these atypical symptoms:
- Sudden weight gain – is due to fluid retention arising out of heart failure. This may be observed in the legs, feet, or abdomen.
- Persistent cough – mostly experienced during the night, is linked to fluid buildup in the lungs.
- Changes in voice – are due to the pressure on the laryngeal nerve from the enlarged chambers and valves.
- Gastrointestinal problems – as a result of lesser flow of blood to the digestive system can cause bloating, nausea, or loss of appetite.
- Urge to urinate at night – is experienced when the body flushes out excess fluid built up during the day.
- Hands and feet cold to the touch – this is another symptom of poor circulation as a result of valve dysfunction.
- Palpitations – may be experienced even without physical activity.
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Shetty B s a cardiologist in Chennai, with extensive experience in the field. He completed his MBBS from Madurai Kamaraj University, followed by an MD in General Medicine and a DM in Cardiology from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (TNMGRMU).