Cardiovascular Disease Symptoms and Diagnosis

What are the symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease?

Heart Attack Symptoms

• Pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting two minutes or more.
• Pain that radiates to the shoulders, neck, arms, back, jaws or teeth.
• Lightheaded feeling, fainting, nausea, or sweating.
• Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Rapid or irregular heart beat.

Stroke Symptoms

• 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 Symptoms

• 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.