Heart Disease Symptoms

The different types of heart disease have similar symptoms and many of the symptoms aren't unique to heart disease. For example, chest pain and shortness of breath are symptoms of coronary artery disease, a heart attack, pneumonia, and a fractured rib. Moreover, a heart attack is often mistaken for indigestion. As a result, laboratory and other medical tests may be needed before a heart disease diagnosis can be finalized.

Heart disease symptoms also differ in intensity and some symptoms might not develop until after there's been extensive damage to a person's heart and blood vessels. It's important for people who have one or more heart disease risk factors to get regular health checkups. Early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease can help people prevent heart disease complications from developing.

Typical symptoms

Coronary artery disease symptoms

• Angina
• Shortness of breath

Angina symptoms

• Chest pain, discomfort, pressure, squeezing, or tightness
• Pain that extends to the arms, back, jaw, neck, shoulders, or throat
• Discomfort that feels like indigestion

Heart attack symptoms

• Angina
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Heart palpitations (fast or slow heartbeats)
• Sweating

Heart failure symptoms

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue, weakness, faintness
• Swelling of the feet and ankles, or abdomen
• Weight gain
• Heart palpitations
• Irregular or rapid pulse
• Cough
• Frequent urination

Heart arrhythmia symptoms

• Heart palpitations
• Skipped heartbeats
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
• Angina
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating

Complications

If heart disease is left untreated, the damage to a person's heart and blood vessels can become more serious and even life-threatening. The complications of the common types of heart disease include:

Coronary artery disease complications

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Sudden death
• Unstable angina

Angina complications

• Heart attack
• Sudden death

Heart attack complications

• Arrhythmias (disorder of the heart's rate or rhythm)
• Blood clots
• Heart failure
• Heart lining inflammation (pericarditis)
• Heart rupture
• Heart valve damage
• Scar tissue
• Sudden death

Heart failure complications

• Arrhythmias (disorder of the heart's rate or rhythm)
• Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
• Sudden death
• Total heart failure

Heart arrhythmia complications

• Angina (chest pain caused by imbalance of supply and demand for oxygen in the heart muscle)
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Sudden death