Cardiovascular disease (CVD) or commonly called heart disease is one of the world’s leading killers, amounting to over 18.6 million deaths every year. CVDs or heart diseases are a group of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
To raise awareness around the need to prevent and timely recognise heart diseases, World Heart Day is observed in September. Recognising early signs of heart disease may turn out crucial in saving one’s life. However, the symptoms of CVDs depend on the type of heart disease a person is suffering from.
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Types of heart disease:
Diseased blood vessel, as in a coronary artery disease
Abnormal heartbeat, called arrhythmias
Heart disease at birth, called congenital heart defects
Disease of a heart valve
Heart muscle disease
A heart infection
Symptoms to seek emergency help:
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Fainting
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Check out the early symptoms of these different types of heart diseases:
Heart disease in blood vessels
Pain, tightness, pressure or discomfort in chest
Feel pain, weakness, cold or numb in arms or legs
Shortness of breath
Pain in neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back
Arrhythmias:
Fluttering in the chest
Racing heartbeat (tachycardia)
Slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
Pain or discomfort in the chest
Shortness of breath
Feeling Light-headed
Feeling dizzy
Almost fainting or fainting (syncope)
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Congenital heart defects:
Skin colour pale or blue (cyanosis)
Swelling in abdomen, legs or around eyes
Shortness of breath in infants while feeding
Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy):
Feeling breathless at rest or when active
Fatigue
Selling in legs, feet and angles
Irregular heart rhythm – rapid, pounding or fluttering heartbeats
Feeling dizzy or light-headed
Fainting
Disease caused by heart infection (endocarditis):
Fever
Fatigue or weakness
Swelling in abdomen or legs
Shortness of breath
Changes in heartbeat
Dry cough or persistent cough
Unusual spots or rashes on the skin
Disease caused by heart valve problems (valvular heart disease):
Irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Swelling in ankles or feet
Pain in the chest
Fainting (syncope)
