Nearly 50 percent of adults in our country suffer from cardiovascular diseases. These are severe diseases that affect the blood vessels and heart, such as heart valve complications and abnormal heart rhythm. If undetected, these conditions can lead to strokes and heart attacks, which can be fatal. Hence, individuals should take steps to maintain heart health and visit a doctor for a diagnosis if they experience the symptoms of cardiac issues.

Symptoms
The symptoms can vary significantly depending on the type of heart disease. The following are a few general indicators that something is wrong with the organ:

• Chest pain or angina
• Lightheadedness or fatigue
• Difficulty breathing
• Edema or swelling because of fluid retention

The signs that point toward a heart attack are:

• Nausea
• Sweating
• Chest pain
• Breathlessness
• Stomach pain
• Heart palpitations
• Leg, back, jaw, or arm pain
• Swollen ankles
• Irregular heartbeat
• Choking sensation
• Fatigue

An untreated heart attack may lead to cardiac arrest, where the heart stops and the body cannot function. Hence, individuals experiencing heart attack symptoms should be given immediate attention. When a person experiences a cardiac arrest, they can be revived with a shock from an automated external defibrillator or instant cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

There are several other cardiac issues besides a heart attack, which can also affect children. For instance, children with congenital heart defects might experience symptoms like a blue tinge on the skin (cyanosis) and an inability to work out. Moreover, it is essential to note that not all heart problems have symptoms. Some individuals might be asymptomatic and not feel any discomfort, making it hard to diagnose the issue.

Causes and risk factors
Cardiac issues can result from specific abnormalities in the heart, such as:

• Damage affecting the entire or partial structure of the heart
• Abnormalities in the blood vessels connected to or emanating from the heart
• Inadequate delivery of oxygen and essential nutrients to the heart
• Disturbances in the heart’s rhythm

Underlying health conditions and lifestyle factors may also add to the risk. A few examples include:

• High cholesterol, blood pressure, or blood sugar
• Age
• A family history of heart disease
• Sleep apnea
• Poor food choices
• Low activity levels
• Anxiety or stress
• Leaky heart valves
• History of preeclampsia during pregnancy

Some cardiac issues are genetic, meaning they run in families.

Diagnosis
To diagnose cardiovascular ailments, healthcare providers first inquire about the patient’s personal and family health history. Following this, they recommend tests that help detect an abnormality. Besides chest X-rays and blood tests, the expert may suggest the following:

• Holter monitoring
  A Holter monitor is a portable ECG device worn for a day or more to monitor the heart’s activity during different actions. It helps study irregular heartbeats that may go unnoticed during a routine ECG test.
• Electrocardiogram
  An ECG is a quick, painless test to record the heart’s electrical signals. It can help determine if the organ is beating slowly or fast.
• Stress or exercise tests
  These tests involve riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill while the doctor monitors one’s heart. They help assess how the organ responds to physical activity and check whether the patient experiences cardiac symptoms during exercise.
• Echocardiogram
  It is a non-invasive test that employs sound waves to produce detailed heart images. The test depicts how blood moves across the heart valves and checks whether they are leaking or narrowing.
• Heart CT scan
  In this test, the patient lies flat on a table inside a doughnut-shaped machine. The machine has an X-ray tube that rotates around the body and gathers images of the chest and heart.
• Cardiac catheterization
  This test looks for blockages in heart arteries. During the examination, a catheter (thin, long, flexible tube) is passed into the blood vessel via the wrist or groin and guided toward the heart. A dye is administered through the catheter into the heart’s arteries, enhancing their visibility in X-ray images captured during the procedure.
• MRI scan
  It employs computer-generated radio waves and a magnetic field to produce detailed heart images.

Treatment options and management
The treatment plan typically depends on the cardiac issue’s type and stage. Doctors recommend a combination of the following in most cases:

• Lifestyle changes
  Lifestyle changes can keep heart diseases at bay and prevent complications. Nutrition is the first area where one can bring about change. Experts recommend eating low-salt meals rich in vegetables and fruits. Physical activity can also make a difference.
• Treatments
  Treatments can help control risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol and slow complications like plaque buildup and infections.
• Invasive procedures or surgery
  Some cardiac issues may need surgery to prevent the symptoms from aggravating. For instance, the doctor may use stents to open partially or wholly blocked arteries.