Health A-Z

Heart disease refers to a range of conditions that affect the heart, including coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), heart defects, and heart infections. Here's an overview of symptoms, treatment plans, diagnosis, and testing for heart disease.

1. Chest pain or discomfort: This is the most common symptom of heart disease. It may feel like pressure, tightness, squeezing, or heaviness.
2. Shortness of breath: You may feel breathless even during mild exertion or at rest.
3. Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or weak, especially after activity.
4. Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet: This can be due to fluid retention caused by heart failure.
5. Irregular heartbeat: This can manifest as palpitations or a sensation of fluttering in the chest.
6. Dizziness or lightheadedness: This may occur due to reduced blood flow to the brain.
7. Nausea, indigestion, or abdominal pain: These symptoms may be more common in women.

1. Lifestyle changes: This includes adopting a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and managing stress.
2. Medications: Depending on the type of heart disease, medications such as statins (to lower cholesterol), beta-blockers (to reduce blood pressure and heart rate), ACE inhibitors or ARBs (to treat heart failure), and blood thinners may be prescribed.
3. Interventional procedures: These may include angioplasty and stenting to open narrowed or blocked arteries, or surgery such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to improve blood flow to the heart.
4. Implantable devices: In some cases, devices such as pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) may be recommended to regulate heart rhythm or prevent sudden cardiac death.

1. Physical examination: Your doctor will listen to your heart and lungs and check for signs of heart disease.
2. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This test records the electrical activity of your heart and can detect irregularities in heart rhythm or signs of a previous heart attack.
3. Echocardiogram: This ultrasound test provides images of the heart's structure and function, helping to diagnose conditions such as heart valve disease or heart failure.
4. Stress test: This test measures how your heart responds to physical exertion, either through exercise or medication, to assess its function and blood flow.
5. Blood tests: These can check for certain biomarkers associated with heart disease, such as cholesterol levels, troponin (a protein released during a heart attack), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP, a marker of heart failure).
6. Coronary angiography: This invasive procedure involves injecting dye into the coronary arteries to visualize any blockages or narrowing using X-rays.
7. Cardiac MRI or CT scan: These imaging tests provide detailed pictures of the heart's structure and blood vessels, helping to diagnose and assess heart conditions.