Understanding Heart Disease: Causes and Symptoms

Heart disease isn't just one thing. It's a number of conditions that can affect how your heart works. Heart disease can also be called cardiovascular disease, though that term covers blood vessels problems as well.

Heart disease is a major killer in the U.S., causing about 1 in 5 deaths, or about 700,000 a year.

Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect the heart. Heart disease includes:

• Blood vessel disease, such as coronary artery disease.
• Irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias.
• Heart conditions that you're born with, called congenital heart defects.
• Disease of the heart muscle.
• Heart valve disease.

Many forms of heart disease can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices.

Heart disease causes depend on the specific type of heart disease. There are many different types of heart disease.

Causes of coronary artery disease

A buildup of fatty substances in the arteries, called atherosclerosis, is the most common cause of coronary artery disease. Risk factors include an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, obesity, and smoking. Healthy-lifestyle choices can help lower the risk of atherosclerosis.

Causes of irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias

Common causes of arrhythmias or conditions that can lead to them include:

• Heart muscle disease, called cardiomyopathy.
• Coronary artery disease.
• Diabetes.
• Illegal drugs such as cocaine.
• Emotional stress.
• Too much alcohol or caffeine.
• Heart conditions present at birth, called congenital heart defects.
• High blood pressure.
• Smoking.
• Heart valve disease.
• Some medicines, herbs and supplements.

Causes of congenital heart defects

A congenital heart defect happens while a baby is growing in the womb. Healthcare professionals aren't sure exactly what causes most congenital heart defects. But gene changes, some medical conditions, some medicines, and environmental or lifestyle factors may play a role.

Causes of heart muscle disease, called cardiomyopathy

The cause of cardiomyopathy depends on the type. There are three types:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy. This is the most common type of cardiomyopathy. The cause is often unknown. It may be passed down through families, which means it's inherited.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This type is usually passed down through families.
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy. This type of cardiomyopathy can happen for no known reason. Sometimes a buildup of protein called amyloid causes it. Other causes include connective tissue disorders.

Causes of heart valve disease

Many things can cause a damaged or diseased heart valve. Some people are born with heart valve disease. If this happens, it's called congenital heart valve disease.

Other causes of heart valve disease can include:

• Rheumatic fever.
• Infection in the lining of the heart valves, called infectious endocarditis.
• Connective tissue disorders.

Symptoms of heart disease in the blood vessels

Coronary artery disease is a common heart condition that affects the major blood vessels that supply the heart muscle. A buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls usually causes coronary artery disease. This buildup is called plaque. The buildup of plaque in the arteries is called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis reduces blood flow to the heart and other parts of the body. It can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or a stroke.

Symptoms of coronary artery disease can include:

• Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort, called angina.
• Shortness of breath.
• Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly or back.
• Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms if the blood vessels in those body areas are narrowed.

You might not be diagnosed with coronary artery disease until you have a heart attack, angina, a stroke or heart failure. It's important to watch for heart symptoms. Talk with your healthcare team about any concerns. Heart disease can sometimes be found early with regular health checkups.

Heart disease symptoms caused by irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias

The heart may beat too quickly, too slowly or irregularly. Heart arrhythmia symptoms can include:

• Chest pain or discomfort.
• Dizziness.
• Fainting or almost fainting.
• Fluttering in the chest.
• Lightheadedness.
• Racing heartbeat.
• Shortness of breath.
• Slow heartbeat.

Heart disease symptoms caused by congenital heart defects

A congenital heart defect is a heart condition present at birth. Serious congenital heart defects usually are noticed soon after birth. Congenital heart defect symptoms in children could include:

• Blue or gray skin. Depending on skin color, these changes may be easier or harder to see.
• Swelling in the legs, belly area or areas around the eyes.
• In an infant, shortness of breath during feedings, leading to poor weight gain.

Some congenital heart defects may not be found until later in childhood or during adulthood. Symptoms may include:

• Getting very short of breath during exercise or activity.
• Easily tiring during exercise or activity.
• Swelling of the hands, ankles or feet.

Heart disease symptoms caused by diseased heart muscle, called cardiomyopathy

In the beginning, cardiomyopathy may not cause noticeable symptoms. As the condition gets worse, symptoms may include:

• Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting.
• Fatigue.
• Feeling short of breath during activity or at rest.
• Feeling short of breath at night when trying to sleep, or waking up short of breath.
• Rapid, pounding or fluttering heartbeats.
• Swollen legs, ankles or feet.

Heart disease symptoms caused by heart valve disease

The heart has four valves. The valves open and close to move blood through the heart. Many things can damage the heart valves. If a heart valve is narrowed, it's called stenosis. If a heart valve lets blood flow backward, it's called regurgitation. Symptoms of heart valve disease depend on which valve isn't working right. Symptoms may include:

• Chest pain.
• Fainting or almost fainting.
• Fatigue.
• Irregular heartbeats.
• Shortness of breath.
• Swollen feet or ankles.