Do I have heart disease?

I am nineteen
years old and obese. I have been overweight all of my life. I am working on
getting into shape, but because I have so much excess weight it is going to take
me a long time.

Since I was young, maybe about eleven or twelve years old, I have sometimes
gotten a pain in the left side of my upper chest, right where my heart is. It is
not a heart attack and I do not have any trouble breathing or moving.

This pain does not occur when I am moving around, or when I have been moving
around. It is rarely associated with a pain in my left arm.

Heart disease runs in my family, but I am young and I do not smoke. Plus I am
making changes in my diet and exercise routine.

Do I have angina pectoralis or something similar? Do I need to see my doctor?
Follow a fruitarian forget about EVERYTHING. I was like you 6 years ago. Now I
am extremely healthy.
This Patient Guide is written for the loved ones of heart patients who are
dealing with the short-term stress that comes with a test, procedure or recent
diagnosis of heart disease. It explains why support is so important to a loved
one with heart disease. It also offers practical strategies on how to support a
loved one while also taking care of yourself.
Good gravy! I hate being the bearer of bad news, but I'm afraid you are in worse
shape than you think. Those are not heart disease symptoms. Those are some
serious signs of cancer. And it doesn't sound like you have much longer to live.
Three months and five days to be exact.
You should always get this checked out by your doctor. Especially if you are
attempting anew excersize routine. get a 12 lead ekg and an echo cardiogram as
well as a stress test done.

Sadly if you are obese you are not too young for heart disease
Maybe.

Maybe.

See a doctor.
I would, check your finger nails, if they have a bluish color to them, then
chances are you have it.
if you are seriously worried, talk to your doctor. only she/he can make a
diagnosis.
Heart Disease: Symptoms



Coronary artery disease, heart attack -- each type of heart disease has
different symptoms, although many heart problems have similar symptoms. The
symptoms you experience depend on the type and severity of your heart condition.
Learn to recognize your symptoms and the situations that cause them. Call your
doctor if you begin to have new symptoms or if they become more frequent or
severe.
Coronary Artery Disease

The most common symptom is angina. Angina can be described as a discomfort,
heaviness, pressure, aching, burning, fullness, squeezing or painful feeling in
your chest. It can be mistaken for indigestion or heartburn. Angina is usually
felt in the chest, but may also be felt in the shoulders, arms, neck, throat,
jaw or back.

Other symptoms that can occur with coronary artery disease include:

* Shortness of breath
* Palpitations (irregular heart beats, skipped beats or a "flip-flop" feeling in
your chest)
* A faster heartbeat
* Weakness or dizziness
* Nausea
* Sweating

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction or MI)

Symptoms can include:

* Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest, arm or below the
breastbone
* Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat or arm
* Fullness, indigestion or choking feeling (may feel like heartburn)
* Sweating, nausea, vomiting or dizziness
* Extreme weakness, anxiety or shortness of breath
* Rapid or irregular heartbeats

During a heart attack, symptoms typically last 30 minutes or longer and are not
relieved by rest or oral medications (medications taken by mouth). Initial
symptoms can start as a mild discomfort that progresses to significant pain.

Some people have a heart attack without having any symptoms (a "silent" MI). A
silent MI can occur among all people, though it occurs more often among
diabetics.

If you think you are having a heart attack, DO NOT DELAY. Call for emergency
help (dial 911 in most areas). Immediate treatment of a heart attack is very
important to lessen the amount of damage to your heart.
Arrhythmias

When symptoms of arrhythmias are present, they may include:

* Palpitations (a feeling of skipped heart beats, fluttering or "flip-flops," or
feeling that your heart is "running away").
* Pounding in your chest.
* Dizziness or feeling light-headed.
* Fainting.
* Shortness of breath.
* Chest discomfort.
* Weakness or fatigue (feeling very tired).

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of arrhythmia. Most people with AF experience
one or more of the following symptoms:

* Heart palpitations (a sudden pounding, fluttering, or racing feeling in the
heart).
* Lack of energy; tired.
* Dizziness (feeling faint or light-headed).
* Chest discomfort (pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest).
* Shortness of breath (difficulty breathing during activities of daily living).

Some patients with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms. Sometimes these
episodes are briefer.
Heart Valve Disease

Symptoms of Heart valve disease can include:

* Shortness of breath and/or difficulty catching your breath. You may notice
this most when you are active (doing your normal daily activities) or when you
lie down flat in bed.
* Weakness or dizziness.
* Discomfort in your chest. You may feel a pressure or weight in your chest with
activity or when going out in cold air.
* Palpitations (this may feel like a rapid heart rhythm, irregular heartbeat,
skipped beats or a flip-flop feeling in your chest).
* If valve disease causes heart failure, symptoms may include:
* Swelling of your ankles, feet or abdomen. Swelling may also occur in your
belly, which may cause you to feel bloated.
* Quick weight gain (a weight gain of two or three pounds in one day is
possible).

Symptoms do not always relate to the seriousness of your valve disease. You may
have no symptoms at all and have severe valve disease, requiring prompt
treatment. Or, as with mitral valve prolapse, you may have severe symptoms, yet
tests may show minor valve disease.

Heart Failure

Symptoms of Heart failure can include:

* Shortness of breath noted during activity (most commonly) or at rest,
especially when you lie down flat in bed.
* Cough that is productive of a white mucus.
* Quick weight gain (a weight gain of two or three pounds in one day is
possible).
* Swelling in ankles, legs and abdomen.
* Dizziness.
* Fatigue and weakness.
* Rapid or irregular heartbeats.
* Other symptoms include nausea, palpitations and chest pain.

Like valve disease, heart failure symptoms may not be related to how weak your
heart is. You may have many symptoms, but your heart function may be only mildly
weakened. Or you may have a severely damaged heart, with little or no symptoms.
Congential Heart Disease

Congenital heart defects may be diagnosed before birth, right after birth,
during childhood, or not until adulthood. It is possible to have a defect and no
symptoms at all. Sometimes it can be diagnosed because of a heart murmur on
physical exam or an abnormal EKG or chest X-ray in an asymptomatic person.

In adults, if symptoms are present, they may include:

* Shortness of breath.
* Limited ability to exercise.
* Symptoms of heart failure (see above) or valve disease (see above).

Congenital Heart Disease in Infants and Children

Symptoms can include:

* Cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin, fingernails and lips).
* Fast breathing and poor feeding.
* Poor weight gain.
* Recurrent lung infections.
* Inability to exercise.

Heart Muscle Disease (Cardiomyopathy)

Many people with heart muscle disease have no symptoms or only minor symptoms,
and live a normal life. Other people develop symptoms, which progress and worsen
as heart function worsens.

Symptoms can occur at any age and may include:

* Chest pain or pressure (occurs usually with exercise or physical activity, but
can also occur with rest or after meals).
* Heart failure symptoms (see above).
* Swelling of the lower extremities.
* Fatigue.
* Fainting.
* Palpitations (fluttering in the chest due to abnormal heart rhythms).

Some people also have arrhythmias. These can lead to sudden death in a small
number of people with cardiomyopathy.
Pericarditis

When present, symptoms of pericarditis may include:

* Chest pain. This pain is different from angina (pain caused by Coronary artery
disease. It may be sharp and located in the center of the chest. The pain may
radiate to the neck and occasionally, the arms and back. It is made worse when
lying down, taking a deep breath in, coughing or swallowing and relieved by
sitting forward.
*

Low-grade fever.
* Increased heart rate.

Because many of the symptoms associated with each type of heart disease are
similar, it is important to see your doctor so that you can receive a correct
diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Go to the doctor its better to be safe than sorry.