Cardiovascular Disease Symptoms and Diagnosis
What are the symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease?
Heart Disease
- Chest discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
- Rapid or irregular heart beat.
- Cold sweats, nausea or lightheadedness.
Stroke
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side
of the body. - Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
Peripheral Artery Disease
- Leg or hip pain during walking (the pain stops when at rest).
- Burning or aching pain in feet or toes when resting.
- High blood pressure.
- Cold legs or feet.
- Color change in skin of legs and feet.
- Loss of hair on legs.
How is Cardiovascular Disease diagnosed?
The most common tests for heart disease include an electrocardiogram (EKG),
exercise stress testing, cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram), 64-slice or CT scanning cardiac catheterization.
For peripheral artery disease, an ultrasound or CT scan may be performed. We also provide a routine test called an ankle brachial index (ABI). This is a quick, painless non-invasive test that compares the blood pressure in the feet and arms.
For stroke, a common test is a CT scan or MRI where the brain’s anatomy and physiology are evaluated for abnormalities.