Cvd Signs & Symptoms

According to the Centers for Disease Control, cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the leading cause of death among Americans in 2006. Recognizing the symptoms of CVD can improve health outcomes and reduce death and disability in people with these conditions.

Types

• Symptoms of cardiovascular disease vary by the type of disease. These conditions include heart attack, angina, heart failure, stroke, arrhythmia and heart infections.

Features

• Heart attack symptoms include chest pain that may radiate to the neck or jaw, shortness of breath, and nausea; symptoms of angina include chest, leg or arm pain; stroke symptoms include sudden, one-sided numbness or weakness, difficulty speaking or walking, and intense headache; heart infection symptoms include fever, swelling of the legs, and weakness.

Identification

• Doctors diagnose the symptoms of cardiovascular disease by performing a physical exam and tests including blood tests, chest x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization.

Treatments

• Treatments for cardiovascular disease symptoms include medications to regulate heartbeat and lower blood pressure and cholesterol; use of implanted devices such as catheters or pacemakers; surgery and heart transplant.

Prevention/Solution

• Quitting or never starting smoking; maintaining a healthy body weight and eating a balanced diet; exercising regularly; managing stress; practicing good hygiene; and controlling diabetes and hypertension can prevent the symptoms of cardiovascular disease.

Warning

• Sudden development of symptoms of cardiovascular disease is a medical emergency and requires urgent evaluation by a doctor.