Common Problems of the Heart

Diseases of the heart can affect any of the major aspects of heart function, for example, the blood supply to the heart, the muscle pump, the heart’s electrical conduction system or the competency of the valves. Sometimes a problem with one or more of these areas will go unnoticed by the patient and will only be picked up through screening or an abnormal routine test result; this is particularly true for patients told that they have a high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Other patients, however, will find themselves troubled by symptoms such as:

• Chest pain
• Breathlessness
• Palpitations
• Dizzy Spells
• Blackouts
• Fluid Retention

These symptoms can occur for a number of reasons, and may not relate to the heart at all, but it is important that they are investigated so that treatment can be initiated if a cause is identified.