Types of Heart Disease

There are many types of heart disease. It is important to know the signs and symptoms and understand each type of the disease. Each type may have similar warning signs, but may require different treatment.

Coronary Artery Disease - the most common being angina. This is America's #1 killer, affecting more than 13 million people.  It is a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries that leads to blockage.

Angina can be described as discomfort, heaviness, pressure, aching, burning, fullness, squeezing or a painful feeling in your chest. It can be mistaken for indigestion or heartburn. You may also feel symptoms in the neck, shoulders, arms, throat, jaw or back. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, palpitations, faster heartbeat, weakness, dizziness, nausea and sweating.

Heart Attack - More than 1 million Americans have a heart attack every year. A myocardial infarction (MI) is permanent damage to the heart muscle.

Symptoms of a heart attack can include discomfort, pressure, heaviness or pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone. There also may be discomfort in the back, jaw, arm or throat. Other symptoms include fullness and indigestion, sweating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, anxiety shortness of breath and rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Arrhythmia - This means your heartbeat is irregular. Arrhythmias can be an emergency or they can be harmless. It could be caused by heart disease or other factors such as:

• The wrong balance of electrolytes in your blood
• Changes in your heart muscle
• Injury form a heart attack
• healing process after heart surgery

There are many types of arrhythmia. Symptoms include palpitations, pounding in your chest, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, chest discomfort weakness and fatigue.

Atrial Fibrillation - This type of heart disease is an irregular heartbeat that can increase the risk of stroke. Some people have no symptoms. The most common symptoms are heart palpitations, lack of energy, dizziness, chest discomfort and shortness of breath.

Heart Valve Disease - This occurs when the heart valves don't work properly. According to the American Heart Association, about 5 million Americans are diagnosed with this form of the disease each year.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, chest discomfort, palpitations. Symptoms of heart valve disease don't always relate to the seriousness of the condition.

There are several other types of heart disease including:

• Heart Failure
• Congenital Heart Defects
• Heart Muscle Disease 
• Pericarditis

Consult your physician if you have questions or symptoms related to heart disease.