In rare cases, the muscle tissue is replaced with scar tissue. ( 11) CardiomyopathyĬardiomyopathy is the name for diseases of the heart muscle that alter the normal structure or function of the heart. Treatments for heart defects have advanced significantly, and now babies who once died from congenital heart disease survive and go on to live healthy lives. If you are experiencing these symptoms, talk to your doctor. They can also occur years after treatment.Ĭommon signs of a heart defect in adults can include an arrhythmia, shortness of breath, tiring quickly, swelling of the body tissue or organs, and a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails. Some defects cause no signs and symptoms at all, while others cause symptoms later in life. Defects range from simple, which might be completely harmless, to complex and life-threatening. ( 10) Congenital Heart DiseaseĬongenital heart disease, also called a congenital heart defect, is one or more abnormality in the heart’s structure that a person has from birth. If left untreated, it can lead to gangrene and amputation.

People with PAD are at an increased risk of CAD, heart attack, and stroke. Many people mistake the symptoms of PAD for something else, and it often goes undiagnosed. The most common symptoms of PAD include cramping of the lower extremities and pain in the leg or hip muscles while climbing stairs. Like CAD, PAD is caused by atherosclerosis. Peripheral artery disease is the narrowing of the arteries to the legs, stomach, arms, and head. ( 9)ĩ Essential Facts About Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Your doctor will discuss the best plan for you, but treatment can include medications, lifestyle changes, the use of cardiac devices, and surgical procedures. There are many treatment options available for heart failure, depending on how serious it is. Signs include fatigue coughing or wheezing swelling in the feet, ankles, and legs confusion and shortness of breath, especially when lying down. That extra fluid - called congestion - builds up in the lungs, liver, and other organs and tissues. The condition occurs when the heart does not pump properly the kidneys then receive less blood and filter less fluid into urine. Untreated heart failure can lead to congestive heart failure, which requires immediate medical attention. Other causes include a past heart attack that damaged the heart muscle or a heart defect that has been present since birth. The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease. According to the AHA, about 6 million people in the United States are living with heart failure. It is one of the most common reasons for hospitalizations in adults over age 65. Heart failure happens when the heart muscle is weakened and cannot adequately pump enough blood and oxygen for the rest of the body to function properly. If you or someone nearby knows cardiopulmonary resuscitation, begin performing it right away. A person suffering from ventricular fibrillation will collapse within a few seconds and will soon stop breathing and cease to have a pulse. Ventricular fibrillation can turn deadly because an ineffective heartbeat can cause blood pressure to drop and can cut off the blood supply to vital organs. It can cause the heart’s ventricles to quiver uselessly instead of pumping blood.

Ventricular fibrillation This occurs when the heart beats with quick, erratic electrical impulses.If symptoms are accompanied by chest pain, call 911 immediately, as you may be experiencing a heart attack. If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor, as treatments can greatly reduce the risk of complications. Symptoms of atrial fibrillation include a quivering or fluttering heartbeat that can be accompanied by fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, faintness or confusion, and sweating. Untreated afib doubles the risk of heart-related deaths and is associated with a fivefold increase in the risk of stroke. At least 2.7 million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Atrial fibrillation Also known as afib, this is the most common type of serious arrhythmia, involving a very fast and irregular heart rhythm of the atria, or the upper chamber of the heart.However, if symptoms persist or frequently return, see your doctor to rule out these more serious problems: These can be signs of an arrhythmia, but these symptoms are generally no need to panic. Most everyone has felt their heart flutter in their chest or the sensation of their heart skipping a beat. Many arrhythmias are not dangerous, but some can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of heart pro lems