It becomes hard for the heart to pump blood from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery because the pulmonary valve is too tight. The right ventricle has to work harder to overcome the obstruction. An infant with severe stenosis can turn blue. Older children will generally have no symptoms.
Treatment is needed if the pressure in the right ventricle is too high, and a balloon valvuloplasty or open-heart surgery may be performed to clear an obstruction.
Symptoms
The symptoms of heart disease depend on which condition is affecting an individual.
However, common symptoms include chest pain, breathlessness, and heart palpitations. The chest pain common to many types of heart disease is known as angina, or angina pectoris, and occurs when a part of the heart does not receive enough oxygen.
Angina can be triggered by stressful events or physical exertion and normally lasts under 10 minutes.
Heart attacks can also occur as a result of different types of heart disease. The signs of a heart attack are similar to angina except that they can occur during rest and tend to be more severe.
The symptoms of a heart attack can sometimes resemble indigestion. Heartburn and a stomach ache can occur, as well as a heavy feeling in the chest.
Other symptoms of a heart attack include:
- pain that travels through the body, for example from the chest to the arms, neck, back, abdomen, or jaw
- lightheadedness and dizzy sensations
- profuse sweating
- nausea and vomiting
Heart failure is also an outcome of heart disease, and breathlessness can occur when the heart becomes too weak to circulate blood.
Some heart conditions occur with no symptoms at all, especially in older adults and individuals with diabetes.
The term 'congenital heart disease' covers a range of conditions, but the general symptoms include:
- sweating
- high levels of fatigue
- fast heartbeat and breathing
- breathlessness
- chest pain
- a blue tint to the skin
- clubbed fingernails
In severe cases, symptoms can occur from birth. However, these symptoms might not develop until a person is older than 13 years.
Causes
Heart disease is caused by damage to all or part of the heart, damage to the coronary arteries, or a poor supply of nutrients and oxygen to the organ.
Some types of heart disease, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, are genetic. These, alongside congenital heart defects, can occur before a person is born.
There are a number of lifestyle choices that can increase the risk of heart disease. These include:
- high blood pressure and cholesterol
- smoking
- overweight and obesity
- diabetes
- family history
- a diet of junk food
- age
- a history of preeclampsia during pregnancy
- staying in a stationary position for extended periods of time, such as sitting at work
Having any of these risk factors greatly increases the risk of heart disease. Some, such as age, are unavoidable. For example, once a woman reaches 55 years of age, heart disease becomes more likely.
Treatment
There are two main lines of treatment for heart disease. Initially, a person can attempt to treat the heart condition using medications. If these do not have the desired effect, surgical options are available to help correct the issue.
Medication
A very wide range of medication is available for the majority of heart conditions. Many are prescribed to prevent blood clots, but some serve other purposes.
The main medications in use are:
- statins, for lowering cholesterol
- aspirin, clopidogrel, and warfarin, for preventing blood clots
- beta-blockers, for treating heart attack, heart failure, and high blood pressure
- angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, for heart failure and high blood pressure
Your doctor will work with you to find a medication that is safe and effective. They will also use medications to treat underlying conditions that can affect the heart, such as diabetes before they become problematic.
