The most common symptoms of heart disease

The most common symptoms of heart disease Chest pain The causes of chest pain may be due to dysfunction of organs in this region: Coronary heart disease and narrowing of the coronary arteries Heart attack and complete occlusion of a vessel Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) Aortic dissection and/or inflammation of the pericardium Pulmonary embolism (occlusion of a lung vessel) If chest pain above the heart begins as tightness, pressure or burning and radiates to the abdomen, throat, jaw or left arm, angina is suspected and coronary artery disease is considered. A heart attack may also occur. In aortic dissection, severe chest pain occurs that can spread to the back, abdomen and legs. Palpitations (arrhythmia), stabbing chest pain and swelling of the legs with shortness of breath may be caused by myocarditis. If sharp pain worsens when lying down or turning onto the left side, this may be due to pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium). Shortness of breath Shortness of breath is very common and can have many causes. Dyspnoea on exertion is an early sign of heart failure. It can also result from coronary narrowing, myocarditis or valve disease. Patients often perceive shortness of breath as dangerous and fear suffocation. Weakness Fatigue and exhaustion are early signs of heart failure. In addition, myocarditis can occur, sometimes accompanied by weight loss. If untreated, this may progress to heart failure. Heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmia) Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) may be caused by valve disease, hypertension, coronary disease or heart failure. A normal resting heart rate is 60–80 bpm and may rise to 150–160 with exertion. Slow or fast rhythms can cause palpitations, dizziness, fainting and loss of consciousness. If recurrent and bothersome, they should be treated. Swelling (oedema) In oedema, often seen in heart failure, fluid accumulates in tissues. For example, the feet swell according to the weaker side of the heart. In right‑sided failure, feet and legs may swell; later, the abdomen may accumulate fluid (ascites). Early left‑sided failure can cause fluid in the lungs and shortness of breath. Patients report cough and palpitations. In early stages, leg swelling worsens towards evening and regresses at night; in severe failure, swelling may persist all day.