Heart Disease – Symptoms and Causes
Heart disease encompasses a range of conditions that impact the heart’s health and function. These include blood vessel problems like coronary artery disease, which affects blood flow.
Arrhythmias occur when the heart beats irregularly.
Some people are born with heart defects. Others develop heart muscle disease or heart valve issues later in life.
Many heart conditions can be prevented or managed through healthy lifestyle choices. Regular exercise, proper diet, and avoiding tobacco can significantly reduce risks.
Signs and Symptoms of Heart Problems
Heart problems in blood vessels often involve plaque buildup (fatty deposits) in artery walls. This buildup narrows arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart and other body parts.
Common signs include:
- Chest discomfort: Feelings of pressure, tightness, squeezing, or pain.
- Breathing problems: Shortness of breath during activity or at rest.
- Pain in upper body: Discomfort in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, or back.
- Circulation issues: Pain, numbness, weakness, or coldness in the legs or arms where blood vessels have narrowed.
Many people don’t know they have heart disease until they experience a serious problem like a heart attack or stroke.
Blood vessel disease develops slowly as fats, cholesterol, and other substances build up in artery walls.
Risk factors include:
| Risk Factor | How It Affects Your Heart |
|---|---|
| Age | Arteries may become more damaged over time |
| Gender | Men face a higher risk initially; women’s risk increases after menopause |
| High blood pressure | Thickens artery walls |
| High cholesterol | Speeds up plaque formation |
| Diabetes | Significantly increases risk |
| Excess weight | Puts extra strain on the heart |
| Inactivity | Weakens heart muscle and overall health |
| Smoking | Damages blood vessels |
| Family history | Genetic factors increase risk |
Symptoms from Irregular Heartbeats
When the heart beats with an abnormal rhythm (too fast, too slow, or irregularly), you might notice:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Fainting episodes or near-fainting
- Fluttering sensations in the chest
- Racing heartbeat
- Slow heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Feelings of weakness
These rhythm problems can range from harmless to life-threatening. The severity of symptoms often corresponds to how abnormal the heart rhythm is.
Signs of Birth-Related Heart Problems
Heart defects present from birth may cause symptoms right away or develop years later.
In babies and young children:
- Bluish or grayish skin tone (especially noticeable during crying or feeding)
- Swelling in the belly, legs, or around the eyes
- Breathing problems during feeding
- Poor weight gain
- Frequent respiratory infections
In older children or adults with undetected heart defects:
- Extreme shortness of breath during physical activity
- Tiring very quickly with exercise
- Swelling in hands, ankles, or feet
- Delayed growth or development
- Heart murmurs (unusual sounds heard through a stethoscope)
The severity of symptoms depends on the type and size of the heart defect. Some small defects may cause no symptoms and require no treatment.
Heart Muscle Disease Warning Signs
Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy) weakens the heart muscle, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively. In early stages, you might not notice any problems, but as the condition progresses, watch for:
- Fatigue: Unusual tiredness even after light activity
- Breathing difficulties: Shortness of breath during activity or even at rest
- Nighttime breathing problems: Waking up gasping for breath or needing to prop yourself up with pillows to breathe comfortably
- Heart rhythm issues: Feeling fluttering, pounding, or racing heartbeats
- Swelling: Puffy legs, ankles, or feet from fluid buildup
Heart muscle diseases can develop from various causes, including genetic factors, infections, or other health conditions like high blood pressure.
Heart Valve Disease Symptoms
The heart’s four valves ensure blood flows in the right direction. When valves don’t open or close properly, it disrupts normal blood flow.
Signs of valve problems include:
- Unusual heart sounds: Doctors may hear murmurs or clicks.
- Fatigue and weakness: From the heart working harder to maintain blood flow.
- Shortness of breath: Especially during activity or when lying down.
- Swelling: In ankles, feet, and sometimes the abdomen.
- Chest discomfort: Pain or pressure, particularly during exertion.
- Dizziness or fainting: When the brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen.
- Heart rhythm problems: Palpitations or irregular heartbeats.
Some valve problems develop slowly, with symptoms appearing gradually over years. Others can cause sudden, severe symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
Pay attention to the warning signs of potential heart issues. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Chest pain lasting more than a few minutes
- Severe shortness of breath
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Pain spreading to arms, neck, jaw, or back
Schedule a regular appointment with your doctor if you notice:
- Unexplained fatigue or weakness
- Swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet
- Heart palpitations that happen frequently
- Dizziness that happens regularly
- Shortness of breath during normal activities
The risk of heart disease rises with age, family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, being overweight, and lack of exercise. Regular checkups are especially important if you have these risk factors.
Why Heart Problems Happen
How Your Heart Does Its Job
The heart has four rooms, called chambers. The two upper chambers of the heart are known as the atria. The bottom two rooms are the ventricles.
The right side of your heart sends blood to your lungs through blood vessels called pulmonary arteries. In the lungs, the blood picks up oxygen.
This oxygen-rich blood then flows to the left side of your heart through the pulmonary veins. The left side pumps this blood through the main artery (aorta) to the rest of your body.
Heart Flaps
Four special flaps in the heart keep blood moving in the right direction. These flaps are:
- Aortic flap
- Mitral flap
- Pulmonary flap
- Tricuspid flap
Each flap opens and closes with every heartbeat. If a flap doesn’t work right, less blood can move through your heart to your body.
Your Heart’s Beat
Your heart has an electrical system that keeps it beating regularly. Electrical signals start in a group of cells at the top of the heart called the sinus node.
These signals travel through a pathway between the upper and lower heart chambers (the AV node). This movement makes the heart squeeze and pump blood to your body.
Why Blood Vessels to the Heart Get Blocked
The most common cause of blocked heart arteries is a buildup of fatty stuff called atherosclerosis. Things that increase your risk include:
- Poor diet choices
- Not enough exercise
- Being overweight
- Smoking
Making healthy lifestyle changes can lower your risk of this problem.
Why Do Heart Rhythms Become Irregular
Several things can cause irregular heartbeats:
- Heart muscle disease
- Blocked heart arteries
- Diabetes
- Street drugs like cocaine
- Stress
- Too much alcohol or caffeine
- Heart problems present at birth
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Heart valve problems
- Some medications and supplements
Why Babies Are Born With Heart Problems
Heart defects that babies are born with happen while they’re still growing in the womb. Doctors aren’t completely sure what causes most of these problems.
Possible factors include:
- Gene changes
- Certain health conditions in the mother
- Some medications
- Environmental or lifestyle factors
Why Heart Muscle Gets Damaged
The cause depends on which type of heart muscle disease you have:
Enlarged Heart (Dilated Cardiomyopathy): This is the most common type. The cause is often unknown, but it can run in families.
Thickened Heart Muscle (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy): This type usually runs in families.
Stiffened Heart Muscle (Restrictive Cardiomyopathy): This can happen for no known reason. Sometimes it’s caused by a protein buildup called amyloid, or by connective tissue disorders.
Why Heart Valves Stop Working Well
Heart valve problems can happen for many reasons. Some people are born with valve problems.
Other causes include:
- Rheumatic fever
- Infections in the lining of the heart valves
- Connective tissue disorders
Heart valve disease can slowly worsen over time if not treated properly.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your chances of developing heart disease:
- Age and Sex: As people get older, their risk increases due to arterial damage and heart muscle changes. Men typically face higher risks than women, though women’s risk levels rise after menopause.
- Family History: If heart disease runs in your family—especially if a father or brother had it before age 55, or a mother or sister before age 65—your risk is increased.
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Lifestyle Factors:
- Smoking: Tobacco smoke damages arteries and significantly raises heart attack risk
- Poor Diet: Eating foods high in fat, salt, sugar, and cholesterol harms heart health
- Physical Inactivity: Lack of exercise is linked to various heart conditions
- Stress: Emotional strain can damage arteries and worsen other risk factors
- Health Conditions:
| Condition | Impact on Heart Health |
|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure | Causes arteries to harden and thicken, changing blood flow |
| High Cholesterol | Increases atherosclerosis risk, linked to heart attacks and strokes |
| Diabetes | Raises heart disease risk, especially when combined with obesity |
| Obesity | Makes other heart disease risk factors worse |
- Dental Health: Poor oral hygiene allows germs to enter the bloodstream and reach the heart, potentially causing endocarditis. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups help reduce this risk.
Many of these risk factors are connected. Inactivity can cause weight gain, leading to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, all of which can harm the heart.
Some risk factors can’t be changed, like age, sex, and family history. However, many others can be managed through lifestyle changes and proper medical care.
Health Risks
Heart disease can lead to several serious health problems. These risks affect different parts of the body and can be life-threatening in some cases.
Heart failure occurs when your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. This common complication affects daily life and requires ongoing management.
Heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked. This blockage often results from plaque buildup or blood clots in the arteries.
Stroke shares many risk factors with heart disease. When arteries to the brain narrow or become blocked, brain tissue doesn’t get enough blood, causing a stroke.
An aneurysm is a dangerous bulge in an artery wall. If it ruptures, it can cause severe internal bleeding, which may be fatal without immediate treatment.
Peripheral artery disease affects blood flow to the limbs, especially the legs. People with this condition often experience leg pain when walking, known as claudication.
Sudden cardiac arrest is the unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness. It typically stems from electrical problems in the heart and requires immediate emergency treatment to prevent death.
Protecting Your Heart
Heart disease can often be prevented through changes in daily habits. These practical steps can help keep your heart healthy:
- Avoid tobacco completely
- Choose a heart-friendly diet low in salt and saturated fat
- Be physically active for at least 30 minutes on most days
- Keep weight in a healthy range
- Practice stress management techniques regularly
- Control health conditions like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes
- Prioritize good sleep (7–9 hours nightly for adults)
