Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. Heart diseases include:

Blood vessel disease, such as coronary artery disease

Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)

Symptoms of heart disease in your blood vessels

A buildup of fatty plaques in your arteries, or atherosclerosis (ath-ur-o-skluh-ROE-sis) can damage your blood vessels and heart. Plaque buildup causes narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke.

Coronary artery disease symptoms may be different for men and women. For instance, men are more likely to have chest pain. Women are more likely to have other signs and symptoms along with chest discomfort, such as shortness of breath, nausea and extreme fatigue.

Signs and symptoms can include:

Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina)

Shortness of breath

Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms if the blood vessels in those parts of your body are narrowed

Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back

You might not be diagnosed with coronary artery disease until you have a heart attack, angina, stroke or heart failure. It’s important to watch for cardiovascular symptoms and discuss concerns with your doctor. Cardiovascular disease can sometimes be found early with regular evaluations.

Heart disease symptoms caused by abnormal heartbeats (heart arrhythmias)

Your heart may beat too quickly, too slowly or irregularly. Heart arrhythmia signs and symptoms can include:

Fluttering in your chest

Racing heartbeat (tachycardia)

Slow heartbeat (bradycardia)

Chest pain or discomfort

Shortness of breath

Lightheadedness

Dizziness

Fainting (syncope) or near fainting

Heart disease symptoms caused by heart defects

Serious heart defects that you’re born with (congenital heart defects) usually are noticed soon after birth. Heart defect signs and symptoms in children could include:

Pale gray or blue skin color (cyanosis)

Swelling in the legs, abdomen or areas around the eyes

In an infant, shortness of breath during feedings, leading to poor weight gain

Less serious congenital heart defects are often not diagnosed until later in childhood or during adulthood. Signs and symptoms of congenital heart defects that usually aren’t immediately life-threatening include:

Easily getting short of breath during exercise or activity

Easily tiring during exercise or activity

Swelling in the hands, ankles or feet

Heart disease symptoms caused by diseased heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)

In early stages of cardiomyopathy, you may have no symptoms. As the condition worsens, symptoms may include:

Breathlessness with activity or at rest

Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet

Fatigue

Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering

Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting

Heart disease symptoms caused by heart infection

Endocarditis is an infection that affects the inner lining of your heart chambers and heart valves (endocardium). Heart infection signs and symptoms can include:

Fever

Shortness of breath

Weakness or fatigue

Swelling in your legs or abdomen

Changes in your heart rhythm

Dry or persistent cough

Skin rashes or unusual spots

Heart defects you’re born with (congenital heart defects)

Heart valve disease

Disease of the heart muscle

Heart infection