MAIN Health Diseases Heart Disease Heart Disease Symptoms

Symptoms of heart or coronary artery disease can be quite pronounced or appear completely without warning - giving heart disease its reputation as the "silent killer."

Men are more apt to develop more obvious and classic symptoms, such as chest or arm pain, and at an earlier age than women. It's a finding that researchers suggest points to the protection afforded by female hormones.

However, as women age they, too, begin to show signs of heart disease. Symptoms may be much subtler - such as dizzniness, fatigue, shortness of breath or arrhythmia (abnormal heart beat) - making heart disease sometimes much more difficult to diagnose in females than in males.

Although a classic sign of heart disease is chest pain (angina) sharp discomfort may also appear in the abdomen, back or arm.

Other common symptoms include shortness of breath, with related swelling of feet and ankles as a result of a weak heart unable to pump blood and oxygen through the system.

A heart attack, of course, is the most serious sign of heart disease which is usually accompanied by severe chest pain and can sometimes strike without warning.

Discover more information on the Web at expert sites explaining typical symptoms & warning signs of heart disease in both men and women, how to tell the difference between angina and heart attack pain, the role that stress and diet play in heart disease along with news, story articles and related resources ....

Coronary Heart Disease Symptoms - Good overview with illustration detailing the most common symptoms including angina and other chest pain, shortness of breath and heart attack.

Symptoms of Heart Disease - Extensive guide to the topic with links to more information on a list of common and uncommon symptoms, diseases with similar symptoms, causes & risk factors, related articles and suggested reading.

Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs - Fact sheet from the American Heart Association with information on visible symptoms, what to do in an emergency, with related information on risk assessment and CPR instruction.

Coronary Artery Disease Symptoms - Common signs in men, symptoms in women, along with descriptions of various forms of angina, a chart comparing angina symptoms and heart attack, what to do in an emergency, with related links.

Stress and Heart Disease - Symptoms and Warning Signs - Why and how stress contributes to heart disease with related warning signs, advice for coping with and reducing stress, and dietary guidelines.

Heart disease symptoms may differ in females - Archived "Today Show" presentation archived at MSNBC featuring research on women's heart disease symptoms with related video.

also see in Health -> Chest pain

This information is intended as reference and not as medical advice.
All treatment decisions should be made by medical professionals.