{"id":16273,"date":"2023-08-10T19:42:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T19:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/heart-disease-symptoms-causes-and-test\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T07:10:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T07:10:36","slug":"heart-disease-symptoms-causes-and-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/heart-disease-symptoms-causes-and-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart Disease: Symptoms, Causes, and Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Overview of Heart Diseases<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart or cardiovascular diseases are a group of conditions related to the heart and major blood vessels. Early detection of the disease makes it easier to prescribe appropriate treatment. Heart disease can affect other tissues and body organs as well. Some common conditions include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congenital heart disease: a condition where Birth defects of the heart that affect the normal development and functioning of the heart<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coronary heart disease: a condition where Blood vessels leading to the heart are affected<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cerebrovascular disease: a condition where Blood vessels leading to the brain are affected<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deep-vein thrombosis: a condition where Blood clots in the legs decrease the blood flow to the heart<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arrhythmia: Abnormal heart rhythms or pulses due to poor electrical conductivity in the heart<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart failure: Heart muscle problems can affect the relaxation and contraction of muscles, leading to pumping problems and fluid build-up.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aortic stenosis: a condition where narrowing of the aorta reduces the blood flow to the organs. Aorta is a major blood vessel that pumps blood out of the heart. Stenosis or narrowing may occur due to congenital problems or mineral and fat deposits.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An inactive lifestyle with behavioural changes is the main reason for cardiovascular problems.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>What are the Symptoms of Heart Disease?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People with heart diseases may be symptomatic or asymptomatic (without physical symptoms). The symptoms may vary in every individual depending upon the type and severity of heart disease. Some prominent symptoms include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Palpitations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chest pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dizziness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart murmurs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain radiating into the neck, shoulder blades, and upper body<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nausea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cold sweat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exhaustion<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you observe any of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately and get medical help.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>How is Heart Disease Caused?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart diseases can affect all age groups. The causes of heart disease can be due to heredity, age related factors, and lifestyle changes. Different heart diseases are caused by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fewer nutrients and oxygen supply to the body and heart<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irregular heart rhythm&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blocked blood vessels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valve damage&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several genetic causes and lifestyle changes can also increase the risk of heart disease. These factors include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypertension (high blood pressure)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High cholesterol<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive smoking and drinking habits<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dietary choices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic anxiety, stress, or depression<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Age factors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Family medical history of heart diseases<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Which Tests Can Diagnose Heart Disease?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diagnosis of heart diseases can be done through various tests. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and conduct a physical examination. Some common diagnostic tests include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood test&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ECG (Electrocardiogram)&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Echocardiogram&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CT scan&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress test<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardiac catheterization&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Of all these tests, blood tests, ECG, and CT scans are typically prescribed to diagnose heart diseases.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The blood tests measure the levels of specific proteins and enzymes in the blood. Abnormal levels of certain proteins can indicate heart-related issues.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An ECG is a test that records the electrical conductivity of the heart in the form of waves o a graph. It can be easily used to detect heart rhythm, poor heart muscle function, heart attacks, and abnormal heart chamber functioning. Several electrodes are attached to the chest, arms, and legs while conducting an ECG test.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cardiac CT scan uses X-rays and the advanced technology of intravenous contrast dye to get clear, detailed images of the internal heart condition along with the major blood vessels. CT scans can produce three-dimensional images of the heart, thereby making it easier to diagnose the hidden condition.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those people who are old, pregnant, and toddlers, it is difficult to conduct a stress test. In such cases, the doctor usually prescribes blood tests, ECG, or CT scan as a diagnostic method.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>What is the Cost of Diagnostic Tests?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><strong>The cost of a diagnostic test varies based on the type of test and the testing centre, whether private or government.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The average cost of a blood test is typically around Rs. 1000\/-.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An ECG costs between Rs. 300\/- to Rs. 700\/- in private testing centres.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A CT scan is quite costly, with an average cost of around Rs. 7000\/- to 8000\/-.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on the test reports, your cardiologist will discuss treatment plans for you. Along with timely medical treatment and medication, it is crucial to maintain an active lifestyle by indulging in healthy food and exercise. Medicines must not be stopped without consulting the doctor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: black; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Heart or cardiovascular diseases are a group of conditions related to the heart and major blood vessels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16746,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[204],"tags":[628,348,627],"class_list":["post-16273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diseases","tag-heart-causes","tag-heart-disease","tag-heart-symptoms"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16273"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16745,"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16273\/revisions\/16745"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agilusdiagnostics.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}