Heart diseases and conditions can affect how your heart functions and can be life-threatening if not managed properly. Here’s a simple explanation of some common heart problems:
What it is: The most common type of heart disease. It happens when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become narrow or blocked by cholesterol deposits (plaques).
Symptoms: Chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, or even a heart attack if the blood flow is completely blocked.
What it is: A heart attack occurs when a part of the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood. This can happen if a plaque in the coronary artery ruptures, forming a blood clot that blocks blood flow.
Symptoms: Intense chest pain, discomfort in other areas like the arms, neck, jaw, or back, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea.
What it is: Heart failure means the heart isn’t pumping blood as well as it should. It doesn’t mean the heart has stopped working, but it’s struggling to meet the body’s needs.
Symptoms: Fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in legs, ankles, and feet (edema), difficulty exercising.
What it is: An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. The heart might beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
Symptoms: Palpitations (feeling like your heart is skipping beats), dizziness, shortness of breath, fainting.
What it is: A specific type of arrhythmia where the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat irregularly and too fast.
Symptoms: Similar to other arrhythmias: palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness. It increases the risk of stroke.
What it is: A disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. The heart might become enlarged, thickened, or stiffened.
Symptoms: Fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations, swelling in the legs and feet.
What it is: The heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in the right direction. Valve disease occurs when one or more of these valves don’t work properly, causing blood flow problems.
Symptoms: Shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, swollen ankles and feet.
What it is: These are heart problems present at birth. They can affect the heart’s structure, such as holes in the heart, or problems with the heart’s walls, valves, or blood vessels.
Symptoms: They vary widely, but can include blue-tinged skin, difficulty breathing, and poor weight gain in infants.
What it is: Inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac surrounding the heart. This can cause sharp chest pain.
Symptoms: Sharp, stabbing chest pain that may get worse when breathing deeply or lying down, fever, weakness, and coughing.
What it is: An infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium), often involving the heart valves.
Symptoms: Fever, chills, fatigue, blood in urine, swelling in the legs or abdomen, heart murmur.
What it is: When the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high, it can damage the heart and lead to conditions like heart attack, heart failure, or stroke.
Symptoms: Often called a “silent killer” because it usually doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms until significant damage has occurred.
What it is: Sudden stopping of the heart’s function, often due to an electrical disturbance in the heart. It is a medical emergency.
Symptoms: Sudden collapse, no pulse, no breathing, loss of consciousness. Each of these conditions requires different approaches for treatment and management, so it’s important to consult a healthcare provider if you suspect any heart-related issues. Early detection and management can significantly improve outcomes.
