Heart disease: warning signs

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Extract from the article: What are the warning signs of heart disease? Heart attack, heart failure, palpitations, angina pectoris. Whether they affect the heart, lungs or even legs, these symptoms should not be taken lightly.

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What are the warning signs of heart disease? Heart attack, heart failure, palpitations, angina pectoris. Whether they affect the heart, lungs or even legs, these symptoms should not be taken lightly.

Unexplained fatigue : low cardiac output may be the cause

General fatigue may be caused by low cardiac output, itself linked to angina pectoris or a blocked coronary artery. Angina pectoris is a symptom of narrowing of the heart's arteries, leading to a reduction in the blood supply necessary for proper cardiac function. If fatigue is associated with shortness of breath, weight gain and edema in the lower limbs, it may be heart failure. A consultation with a cardiologist will help establish the diagnosis.

Chest pain : a typical symptom in men

In men, chest pain is a typical sign of angina pectoris, a symptom of narrowing of the heart's arteries resulting in reduced blood supply to the heart. The pain feels like a vice-like grip on the chest, reaching up to the jaws and into the left arm. Sudden chest pain is an emergency requiring hospitalization. Treatment must be immediate and appropriate.

Palpitations : watch out for atrial fibrillation

Palpitations are a sensation of the heart racing or beating too hard, too fast or irregularly. In the vast majority of cases, palpitations are a symptom of anxiety. If the palpitations last for several minutes or even hours, it's best to have a cardiac check-up. This will reveal whether the palpitations are a symptom of atrial fibrillation, a disorganized contraction of the heart's atria. An anticoagulant treatment should then be introduced to prevent the risk of stroke, which increases with this pathology.

Palpitations can also be a warning sign of pulmonary embolism if they are associated with difficulty in breathing, or the presence of a painful spot in the chest.

Shortness of breath: a sign of heart failure

Shortness of breath, if associated with weight gain, edema in the lower limbs and fatigue, is a sign of heart failure. Heart failure is a disease of the heart that occurs when the heart is no longer able to ensure sufficient blood flow to cover the body's needs. Symptoms first appear on exertion, then at rest as the condition worsens. Shortness of breath can also indicate angina pectoris or a blocked coronary artery. In these cases, the lungs are less well irrigated, making it harder to breathe. Don't hesitate to consult a doctor, especially a cardiologist.

Syncope: beware of infarction

Syncope is a sudden loss of consciousness. Syncope can have either neurological or cardiac causes. Cardiac causes are potentially severe, since syncope can reveal a myocardial infarction. There are also other cardiac causes : syncope can be due to severe coronary disease, a cardiac conduction disorder or a ventricular rhythm disorder. A cardiac conduction disorder, corresponding to a problem with the transmission of nerve impulses in the heart, will require appropriate treatment. A ventricular rhythm disorder, on the other hand, is equivalent to a disorganization of the activity of the heart's ventricles, and in the worst cases will require ablation of the cardiac conduction pathways, i.e. the cardiac tissues that conduct nerve impulses within the heart.

Edema : a possible cardiac cause

Edema is swelling due to an unusual accumulation of fluid in a tissue of the human body. Edema in the lower limbs, i.e. the feet or legs, can be linked to heart failure if associated with shortness of breath, weight gain and unexplained fatigue. Edema can also be a sign of a venous problem, a kidney disorder or a liver disorder. Edema can also be iatrogenic, i.e. caused by certain medications. In the event of edema, consult your doctor: he or she will carry out diagnostic tests to identify and treat the cause.

Elom AKAKPO