Signs of Heart Problems |
Difficulties in Diagnosing the Signs of a Heart ProblemLess than 1 of 5 heart problems are detected before symptoms become evident. The signs of heart problems are not necessarily obvious. They may be subtle and quite difficult to detect. For a lot of people, their health can decline so gradually that it's barely noticed, inching up on them over time. At the beginning, signs of heart problems can be unusual changes in heart rythm, chest pain, collapsing from exhaustion after heavy physical exercise or sports related work outs. The two most common heart problems are coronary artery disease (CAD) and idiopathic cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle without a known cause). Most kinds of heart problems are associated with high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary artery disease (the buildup of plaque in the arteries of the heart), high cholesterol, and heart valve disease. If your symptoms are more evident, it may be time to see a cardiologist. A lot of heart problems are not evident just by listening with a stethoscope. If they're present all the time, they may be found with a resting EKG. Some heart problems are not there all the time and may not appear in the EKG results. In those cases where heart problems are suspected but not found with the EKG, a halter monitor might be used. Most heart problems are easier to find when your heart is working harder than when it's resting. Those with heart problems are encouraged to wear a medical alert bracelet and to go to the emergency room if they experience chest, back or abdominal pain. |