All about heart disease
Symptoms and early signs of heart disease
Heart disease symptoms can vary in women and men, but typically there are 10 early signs of heart disease to look out for:
Heart disease symptoms
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath and coughing
- Fatigue (beyond feeling sleepy)
- Pain that trickles down your arms
- Dizziness
- Swelling of the hands and feet
- Quick heartbeat, or skipping a beat
- Feeling sick
- Cold sweats
- Indigestion
Heart attack warning signs in women & men
Heart attack symptoms in women
1 in 3 women who die die from heart disease and heart attack. But remember that if you get your symptoms under control, you can improve your illness.
Here are the heart attack symptoms in women:
❗Shortness of breath
❗Feeling sick or vomiting
❗Dizziness
❗Back pain
❗Jaw pain
❗Anxiety
❗Fatigue
❗Palpitations
❗Cold sweats
❗Flu-like symptoms
Heart attack symptoms in men
Meanwhile, here are the heart attack symptoms in men:
❗Pressure or squeezing sensation in chest
❗Pain that spreads across the shoulders and neck
❗ Lightheadedness
❗Fainting
❗Feeling sick
❗Shortness of breath
Experiencing any of these symptoms?
If you have heart disease and experience any of the listed warning signs of a heart attack, you must get checked out. As we are painfully aware, heart attacks are life-threatening and can be fatal.
Here’s what you should do:
Call 999
Sit on the floor
Chew or swallow an aspirin
Wait for medical attention
Types of heart disease: Symptom checker
Here are the six types of heart disease commonly diagnosed in men, women, and infants
1. Coronary heart disease
This is caused by a build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
2. Heart failure
This is caused by the heart being unable to pump blood normally. Early warning signs of heart failure include shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, and fatigue.
3. Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
This is caused by `electrical disturbances` in the heart. Symptoms include palpitations (where you can feel a quickening of your heart), dizziness, fainting, and fatigue.
4. Heart valve disease (Valvular Disease)
This is caused by damage to the heart valves. Symptoms of valvular disease includes shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling.
5. Congenital heart disease (CHD)
This is caused by structural defects present at birth, so you’ll likely know you have it since infancy.
Symptoms of CHD include bluish skin and breathlessness (in infants).
6. Cardiomyopathy (diseases of the heart muscle)
This is caused by a disease of the heart muscle itself. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling, and palpitations.
What causes heart disease?
Heart disease can be prevalent in any age group, even in babies and youngsters. Both men and women can be diagnosed with heart disease; men are more susceptible, though there are female-only conditions that lead to heart disease, such as PCOS.
If you relate to any of the following risk factors in this non-exclusive list, then it is a good idea to get checked out by a doctor who can rule out heart disease:
✔ Excessive smoking
✔ Excessive alcohol intake
✔ Recreational drug use
✔ Family history of heart disease/heart attacks
✔ High blood pressure
✔ High cholesterol
More possible causes include:
✔ Lack of sleep
✔ Type 2 diabetes
✔ PCOS (in women)
✔ Undiagnosed heart defects
✔ Uncontrolled thyroid conditions
✔ Obesity
✔ Sedentary lifestyle
✔ Autoimmune diseases
How to take care of your heart: dos and don’ts
Heart disease is often preventable, and there are lots of lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk.
You can help to keep your heart healthy by making the following changes:
| ✔ Do | ✘ Don't |
| ✔Eat a diet of green vegetables, berries, low-fat dairy, and whole grains | ✘Avoid smoking and recreational drug usage |
✔Learn to manage your stress levels | ✘Reduce alcohol intake |
✔Encourage healthy sleep | ✘Reduce salt in your diet |
✔Exercise as and when you can | ✘Avoid junk and fried food |
✔Check up on your cholesterol and blood pressure | ✘Eat excessive amounts of junk food, sugary foods, or red meat |
✔Take your heart medication on time |
Does heart disease differ in men and women?
Yes. Men and women have differences in the heart; for example, the hearts and blood vessels are different sizes, and cholesterol builds up differently in men and women.
This means that the treatment for heart disease differs in men and women. Treatment is usually a mix of heart medication and lifestyle changes such as diminishing smoking, drinking, and junk food intake.
Heart disease clinics near me
At Pall Mall Medical, we can help to diagnose your heart disease via Heart Health Blood Tests.
To enquire, please get in touch with our expert team today. Your heart health matters.
Heart Disease Frequently Asked Questions.
Who is susceptible to getting heart disease?
Heart disease can happen in anyone, including men, women, and children. Typically, people who drink, smoke, and eat unhealthily are at a higher risk of heart disease.
What are the 3 main causes of heart disease?
There are many causes of heart disease, but the main three risk factors are high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and smoking.
Is heart disease hereditary?
Some types of heart disease are hereditary, including familial hypercholesterolaemia, cardiomyopathy, and congenital heart disease.
What are the early warning signs of cardiovascular issues?
The early warning signs of heart disease vary depending on the type of CHD you have, but the symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest pains, fatigue, and swollen feet.
How is heart disease diagnosed?
In private clinics, heart disease is typically diagnosed via a range of checks, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart rhythm. Early warning signs are analysed, and a range of heart health blood tests are performed.
Where to find heart disease support groups near me
The British Heart Foundation and Cardiomyopathy UK are fantastic resources. If you want to speak to a heart disease specialist, you can find ours within our clinics in:
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