The characteristics of heart disease are important for you to know. The reason is, this disease can attack anyone regardless of age and some even do not cause symptoms. By knowing the characteristics, treatment steps can be taken immediately before causing fatal complications.
Heart disease is a condition when the heart is compromised and does not function properly. These disorders can vary and are handled in different ways.
Heart disease is generally characterized by chest pain and shortness of breath during activity or at rest. However, there are several types of heart disease whose symptoms are almost similar to other diseases or even have no symptoms.
Therefore, it is important for you to recognize the characteristics of heart disease so that examination and treatment steps can be carried out immediately.
Symptoms of Heart Disease By Type
The following are some types of heart disease and their accompanying signs and symptoms:
1. Heart attack
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked due to plaque or blockage in the heart's blood vessels. This condition has an impact on the disruption of the function of the heart in circulating blood throughout the body.
A person having a heart attack will show several symptoms, such as:
- Pain in the chest, lower ribs, and arms that radiates to the neck, jaw, shoulders, to the back
- Dizziness, nausea and vomiting
- Pain in the upper abdomen or heartburn
- Weak
- Excessive sweating
- Hard to breathe
- Faster heartbeat or pounding
- Bloated
These symptoms can last for 30 minutes or more and do not go away despite taking regular painkillers. Symptoms that appear can be mild to severe.
For some cases, a heart attack sometimes shows no symptoms at all. This condition is called silent myocardial infarction.
2. Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart are blocked due to plaque buildup or atherosclerosis.
Coronary heart disease is generally characterized by discomfort, pain, or pressure in the chest. In addition, coronary heart disease can also cause several other symptoms, such as:
- Weak and dizzy
- Heart palpitations or palpitations
- A cold sweat
- Nauseous
- Shortness of breath or shortness of breath
3. Arrhythmia
Arrhythmias occur when the heart beats irregularly due to a disturbance in the flow of electricity in the nerves that regulate heart rhythm. This condition causes the heart to beat too slowly or too fast, so it can't pump blood properly.
Heart rhythm disturbances are usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Heart palpitations or palpitations
- Pain in the chest
- Dizzy
- Weak
- Short breath
- Loss of consciousness or fainting
4. Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a type of heart rhythm disorder characterized by a faster heart rate than normal. The normal heart rate is 60–100 beats per minute. Meanwhile, in atrial fibrillation, the heart rate can be more than 100 beats per minute.
As with a heart attack, atrial fibrillation sometimes has no symptoms at all. However, there are some common signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation, including:
- Heart palpitations or palpitations
- Pain in the chest
- Shortness of breath during normal activities
- Weakness and dizziness suddenly
If not treated immediately, this condition can lead to complications such as blood clots, stroke, and heart failure.
5. Heart failure
Heart failure is a condition when the heart cannot pump blood smoothly throughout the body. Some conditions, such as high blood pressure and constriction of blood vessels, can cause the heart muscle to weaken and lead to heart failure.
Symptoms of heart failure can be continuous or occur suddenly. The following are signs and symptoms of heart failure:
- Shortness of breath when resting or lying down
- Cough
- Swelling in the abdomen, legs, and ankles
- Dizzy
- Tired and limp
- Difficult to concentrate
- Decreased appetite
6. Pericarditis
Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, which is the layer that covers and protects the heart. This condition can be caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, or autoimmune disorders.
Pericarditis is generally characterized by symptoms of fever, palpitations, body feels weak, and pain in the center of the chest and feels stabbing. The pain will get worse when the patient inhales, coughs, or lies down. If not treated immediately, pericarditis is at risk of causing death.
7. Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy refers to disorders of the heart muscle or better known as a weak heart. This condition causes the heart muscle to thicken, enlarge, or become stiff.
Some people with cardiomyopathy have no symptoms and can lead a normal life. However, not a few also show symptoms and worsen as heart function declines. This heart disorder has the following characteristics:
- Chest pain after exercise and after eating
- Fatigue
- Palpitations
- Swelling in the arms or legs
- Faint
8. Heart valve disease
The heart has 4 valves that function to maintain blood flow to and from the heart. However, in people with heart valve disease, one or more valves cannot open or close properly, thus interfering with the heart's function of pumping blood.
If the heart valve is impaired, the sufferer will show symptoms in the form of:
- Pain in the chest when exercising or breathing cold air
- Weak and dizzy
- Palpitations or chest palpitations
How to Diagnose Heart Disease
To determine whether the symptoms you are experiencing include the characteristics of heart disease or not, immediately consult a doctor. This is especially important if you have risk factors for heart disease, such as being overweight and high blood pressure.
In determining the diagnosis and type of heart disease experienced by the patient, the doctor will perform a physical examination and supporting examinations, such as:
- Electrocardiography (ECG)
- Chest X-ray
- Echocardiography
- Angiography
- Cardiac enzyme test
Heart disease can be prevented by living a healthy lifestyle, for example eating nutritious foods, limiting fat and salt intake, stopping smoking, exercising regularly, and managing stress well.
If you have risk factors for heart disease or feel symptoms of heart disease, immediately consult a doctor to undergo an examination and get the right treatment.