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How do you know if you have heart disease?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 17, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Symptoms that may indicate that you have heart disease include:

Some people develop a build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels around the heart, called coronary artery disease. This build-up happens slowly over many years without any symptoms until eventually one of the blood vessels becomes narrowed or blocked, preventing blood and oxygen supply to that area of the heart, causing chest pain or a heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction). Symptoms of coronary artery disease and even a heart attack may be different for men and women. Men are more likely to have chest pain but women are more likely to experience chest discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, and extreme fatigue.

These are some of the symptoms that may indicate you have heart disease, but for many people, heart disease has no symptoms, that is why it is often referred to as the “silent killer”. It is not until a person experiences a significant event (such as a heart attack or stroke) or their doctor runs some tests as part of a routine checkup, that they discover damage or changes to their heart and/or blood vessels. If you have any risk factors for heart disease listed below, see your doctor at least every year for a checkup.

Related questions

What are some risk factors for heart disease?

Heart disease is easier to treat when detected early. If you have no symptoms of heart disease listed above but you have risk factors for heart disease (listed below) then see your doctor at least yearly for a checkup. Risk factors for heart disease include:

References
  • Heart Disease. Mayo Clinic. 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353118

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