Heart conditions
What it feels like, when to seek care, and which test evaluates each one.
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High blood pressure
Sustained hypertension. It has no symptoms and is the most common cause of silent cardiovascular damage.
- Usually none
- Headache at the back of the head
- High readings on repeated measurement
Tests that evaluate it Ambulatory blood pressure monitoringEchocardiogram
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Arrhythmias
Disorders of heart rhythm: beats that are too fast, too slow, or irregular.
- Palpitations or a flip-flop sensation in the chest
- Dizziness or feeling faint
- Sudden shortness of breath
Tests that evaluate it Electrocardiogram24 or 48-hour Holter monitorPacemaker
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Heart attack
Blood flow to part of the heart muscle is cut off. Time is muscle.
- Severe pressure or pain in the center of the chest
- Pain spreading to the arm, neck, jaw, or back
- Cold sweating with nausea
- Shortness of breath along with the pain
Tests that evaluate it ElectrocardiogramCardiac catheterization
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Angina
Pressing chest pain that appears when the heart receives less blood than it needs. It usually warns before a heart attack.
- Chest pressure when walking fast or climbing stairs
- Discomfort that eases on stopping or resting
- Triggered by cold, exertion, or intense emotion
Tests that evaluate it Stress testCardiac catheterization
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Heart failure
The heart does not pump strongly enough to meet the body's demand.
- Shortness of breath when walking or lying down
- Swelling of feet and ankles
- Fatigue out of proportion to effort
- Waking at night feeling unable to breathe
Tests that evaluate it EchocardiogramElectrocardiogram
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Chest pain
The most common reason for a cardiology visit, and the one least worth postponing.
- Pressure or heaviness in the center of the chest
- Pain that appears with exertion and eases with rest
- Pain spreading to the arm, neck, or jaw
- Discomfort arriving with cold sweat or nausea
Tests that evaluate it ElectrocardiogramStress test
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Cardiovascular risk
The sum of factors that cannot be felt today and that determine the chance of a cardiac event in the coming years.
- None, by definition
- Diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure already diagnosed
- Current smoking
- Family history of heart attack before age 55
Tests that evaluate it Stress test