Heart disease is any condition that affects the heart. Each different type of heart disease has its symptoms and treatment. The most common risk factors of heart diseases are obesity, diabetes, unhealthy dieting, high cholesterol, blood pressure, and being physically inactive. Most forms of heart diseases are preventable or treatable with healthy lifestyle choices.

This article sheds more light on five different heart diseases and their associated symptoms:

1. Pericardial Disease

Pericardium is the outer layer or sac surrounding the heart. Pericardial disease affects the pericardium, and among the most common diseases of this sac are inflammation or pericarditis. The most common causes are trauma, cancer, heart attack, and infections. Symptoms of pericarditis include increased heart rate, fever, and chest pains.

2. Cardiomyopathy 

Cardiomyopathy is a heart disease that affects the muscles of your heart. The muscles can either grow weak, larger, or rigid. The thickening of the heart muscle causes HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), which makes it challenging for the heart to pump blood. Cardiomyopathy heart muscle disease can be a result of genetic heart conditions, virus infection, drug or toxins reaction, and even at times, chemotherapy. Symptoms of this heart disease include shortness of breath, repeated fatigue, rapid pulse, bloating, and swelling in the ankles and feet. Finding the exact cause of this condition is difficult for doctors during the early stages, and as the condition worsens, so do the symptoms.

3. Coronary Artery Disease 

Coronary artery disease or (CAD) is also known as coronary heart disease, and it is the most common type of heart disease. This condition results from clogged fatty plaques in arteries. Plaque consists of cholesterol and other substances which cause the arteries to harden and narrow. Symptoms of coronary artery disease include nausea, shortness of breath, discomfort, numbness in your arms or legs, feelings of indigestion, and pressure on the chest. Symptoms of CAD are different in men and women.

4. Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (or aFib) is an irregular and chaotic heart rhythm that causes blood clots. During this heart condition, the heart’s upper chambers beat irregularly and rapidly. Symptoms of this condition include lack of energy, chest discomfort, dizziness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. Episodes of this condition might be persistent, or they might come and go. Also, they might be long-standing, persistent or permanent. This condition is not life-threatening but requires proper treatment to avoid developing into stroke.

5. Heart Valve Disease

The heart has four valves that open and close, directing blood flow in the heart. These four valves, namely pulmonary, aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valves, are prone to damage resulting in narrowing, leaking, or improper closing. Signs and symptoms of heart valve disease include chest pain, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath after aortic valve replacement, fainting, and swollen feet. Mitral valve prolapse happens when the mitral valve does not close properly and bulges into the left atrium. Though not serious, it is treatable using the mitral valve prolapse treatment. The tricuspid valve separates the upper and lower chambers and can be damaged or destroyed. Tricuspid valve stenosis and tricuspid valve regurgitation are the different types of tricuspid valve diseases and are treatable using tricuspid valve replacement.