Heart Symptoms and Causes
Common symptoms for cardiac conditions
Dr. Christina Adams, Cardiology, Scripps Clinic
Common symptoms for cardiac conditions
Learn about symptoms commonly associated with various heart conditions. If you believe you are feeling any acute symptoms, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
For less urgent concerns, like mild ankle swelling, the highly skilled and experienced teams at Scripps can assess your symptoms and recommend the right tests and imaging to diagnose a possible cardiovascular condition.
Atherosclerotic disease
Atherosclerotic disease is the thickening of fatty plaque in arteries, preventing adequate blood flow and possibly causing blood clots.
Possible symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
- Neck pain
Causes can include:
- Plaque buildup
- Inactive lifestyle
- Unhealthy diet
- Smoking
Arrhythmia
An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat, either in speed or strength. It's caused by a malfunction in the heart's electrical system.
Possible symptoms include:
- Palpitations (fluttering or skipping a beat)
- Racing heartbeats
- Sweating
- Slow heartbeats
- Chest tightness
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Dizzy spells
Causes can include:
- Congenital heart defects
- Coronary artery disease
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol or caffeine
- Stress
Congenital defects
Congenital defects are heart issues present at birth.
Possible symptoms include:
- Swelling in the legs, ankles or abdomen
- Skin tone pale blue or gray (cyanosis)
- Tiredness
- Shortness of breath
Causes can include:
- Congenital defects are often the result of the heart not healing in the first hours or days of a newborn’s life. Medications and infections can affect a baby’s heart development.
- Congenital defects can develop in adults, or symptoms of a defect may increase with other contributing factors.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease specifically of the heart’s muscle tissue.
Possible symptoms include:
- Swelling in feet, ankles and abdomen
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Indigestion
- Fainting
Causes can include:
- Obesity
- Plaque buildup
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Age
Valvular disease
Valvular disease is a problem with the valves between the heart chambers that keep blood flowing in the correct direction.
Possible symptoms include:
- Swelling in feet, ankles and abdomen
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- Fatigue
Causes can include:
- Rheumatic fever
- Infection