Right now, as you read this, your heart is beating away and moving blood throughout your body. When your heart is working normally, you won’t notice it at all. But there are ways our hearts let us know if something isn’t quite right. Identifying these symptoms, and responding to them, can help prevent heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for men and women and affects nearly half of all American adults. Show
“No matter what your age, no matter whether you’re a man or a woman, we are all at risk for heart disease,” says cardiologist Lawrence Phillips, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine and medical director of outpatient clinical cardiology at NYU Langone. “If you are experiencing symptoms, the longer you wait to get them evaluated, the greater your risk of something going wrong.” Heart disease includes structural problems in the heart’s valves, electrical problems that affect heart rhythm, and narrowing and blockages in the coronary arteries. Often, your body sends signs that your heart needs care—symptoms you should not ignore. These include chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, loss of consciousness, and dizziness. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor. Tests to diagnose heart disease can include an electrocardiogram (EKG), stress test, or angiogram to look for blockages in the heart’s arteries. VIDEO: NYU Langone cardiologist Dr. Lawrence Phillips explains the five symptoms of heart disease you should always consult your doctor about. “In some cases patients come in and we discover nothing is wrong,” Dr. Phillips says. “They then apologize for ‘wasting my time.’ But I tell them, ‘You did not waste my time. This was the best possible outcome.’ Waiting puts you at higher risk for something worse happening, so never hesitate to call your doctor.” Is it important to note, Dr. Phillips says, that heart disease symptoms for women can vary from those experienced by men. “Women are more likely to have shortness of breath and nausea,” says Dr. Phillips. “Or, they have arm or shoulder pain on both sides. If you have any combination of these symptoms, you should be evaluated by your doctor.” Heart attacks and strokes require emergency care and can’t wait for a visit to the doctor. If the symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. Chest Pain“Chest pain is never normal,” says Dr. Phillips. And by that, he means any kind of chest discomfort, including the “elephant sitting on my chest” feeling, but also sharp pains, a burning sensation, or a tugging feeling in the chest, all of which could be your heart’s way of saying it is not getting enough oxygen. “If it’s a new symptom, have it checked out,” says Dr. Phillips. Chest pain, also known as angina, can signal coronary artery disease that results from atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup, in the arteries that supply the heart. This can be treated with medication, angioplasty with stenting, or surgery. Shortness of BreathShortness of breath is best explained as a change in your normal breathing pattern. Is it hard to take a deep breath? Do you get winded more easily during exercise or walking up a flight of stairs? When you lie down, do you have trouble breathing, or do you wake up in the middle of night trying to catch your breath? These are all signs that your heart might not be working efficiently, says Dr. Phillips. Shortness of breath can be related to many different heart conditions, such as mitral valve disease, aortic valve disease, heart attack, and heart failure. Heart PalpitationsIf you feel your heart racing for longer than seems normal, that is worthy of a call to your doctor. “When you exercise, you’ll feel your heart beating more strongly,” says Dr. Phillips. “But palpitations that continue for minutes or even hours are not normal.” Palpitations can be a sign of atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias that alter heart rhythm. Loss of ConsciousnessWhen a person faints or passes out, it’s often sudden—they fall to the floor, for instance, and have no memory of what happened when they regain consciousness. This could be a sign of a dangerous heart rhythm disorder that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and should never be ignored. DizzinessDizziness is defined as feeling like the room is spinning or you are going to pass out. This can be due to a slow or fast heart rhythm, and can indicate that your heart’s electrical system is not firing properly. “This could be a sign of an arrhythmia, or of a heart valve condition,” Dr. Phillips says. “It’s important to get an EKG to look for an irregular heart rhythm and make sure there is no major problem.” Some people with atrial fibrillation, particularly older people, do not have any symptoms. The irregularity in heart rhythm is often only discovered during routine tests or investigations for another condition. Typically, a cardioversion (where the heart is given a controlled electric shock to restore normal rhythm) is carried out. At this point, many people feel much better and realise they had not been feeling normal. People
often attribute tiredness and feeling lethargic to ageing, but once normal rhythm is restored, they realise these symptoms were caused by atrial fibrillation. Heart palpitationsThe most obvious symptom of atrial fibrillation is heart palpitations – where the heart feels like it's pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly, often for a few seconds or possibly a few minutes. As well as an irregular heartbeat, your heart may also beat very fast (often considerably higher than 100 beats per minute). You can work our your heart rate by checking your pulse in your neck or wrist. Other symptoms you may experience if you have atrial fibrillation include:
The way the heart beats in atrial fibrillation reduces the heart's performance and efficiency. This can lead to low blood pressure (hypotension) and heart failure. See a GP or call 111 if:
It's important to get medical advice to make sure it's nothing serious. Urgent advice: Call 999 if:You have sudden chest pain that:
You could be having a heart attack. Call 999 immediately as you need immediate treatment in hospital. Electrocardiogram (ECG)An electrocardiogram (ECG) can be used to confirm a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. An ECG is a test that records the rhythm and electrical activity of your heart. Read more about how atrial fibrillation is diagnosed Page last reviewed: 17 May 2021 What disorder is rapid heartbeat and sweating?If you have tachycardia, your heartbeat might feel like a strong pulse in your neck or a fluttering, racing beat in your chest. You may also feel discomfort in your chest, weakness, shortness of breath, faint, sweaty or dizzy. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
What causes shortness of breath and pounding heart?Strong emotional responses, such as stress, anxiety or panic attacks. Depression. Strenuous exercise. Stimulants, including caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, and cold and cough medications that contain pseudoephedrine.
What heart problems cause fatigue and shortness of breath?Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should. Blood often backs up and causes fluid to build up in the lungs (congest) and in the legs. The fluid buildup can cause shortness of breath and swelling of the legs and feet.
What are the 4 types of arrhythmias?There are five main types of arrhythmias, described by the speed of heart rate they cause and where they begin in the heart.. Ventricular fibrillation.. Ventricular tachycardia.. Premature ventricular beats (PVCs). Torsades de pointes.. |
What is the disorder with symptoms of pounding heart sweating and shortness of breath?
zusammenhängende Posts
Urheberrechte © © 2024 ihoctot Inc.
