How to Recognize the Symptoms of Heart Disease

Heart disease cannot be characterized by a single symptom. Heart disease needs prompt attention or it can prove fatal.

Instructions

• 1

  Find out if the patient shows excruciating pain or stiffness in the chest. This unbearable sensation may stretch to arms, neck, back and stomach.

• 2

  Check for unusual breathlessness while doing mild physical activity. The patient might experience difficulty in breathing when lying flat and may need to prop up the torso for sufficient breath.

• 3

  Inquire about palpitation or a feeling a rapid and forceful heart beats. Such symptoms lasting for several hours lead to chest pain and dizziness which indicates cardiac problem.

• 4

  Light-headedness and fainting while standing, which diminishes on sitting is indicative of a heart disorder.

• 5

  Find out if there is continuous coughing which produces blood-tinged mucus. It can lead to heart problem.

• 6

  Puffiness in the tissues of ankles, legs, lungs and abdomen can also be a sign of problematic heart.

• 7

  Examine the patient for bluish-tinged or purplish fingernails or lips. These might be a consequence of too little oxygen in the blood.

• 8

  Test for feeling tired too soon. Fatigue is a major symptom of heart disease. Feeling tired or exhausted with everyday activities like shopping, climbing stairs and so on shows heart getting weak.

• 9

  Ask about loss of appetite or a feeling of fullness in the stomach. It indicates heart problem.

• 10

  Observe the patient for memory loss, confusion or any feelings of disorientation. It is a sure sign of heart problem.