A specific cardiac disease may impose
a varying set of symptoms and clinical findings in a
given patient. This is dependent upon the severity of
disease, its duration and the presence or absence of
associated diseases.
For example, a diabetic patient with severe coronary
artery disease may have little or no symptoms. On the
other hand, another patient with milder disease may
be incapacitated by recurring chest pain.
Similarly, another patient with heart failure or "weakened
heart muscle" may be able to lead a relatively
normal life despite having severe disease because the
heart has had a chance to compensate or adapt to the
disease. In contrast, another patient with milder disease
may have severe shortness of breath that may occur during
usual daily activities or even at rest.
To help understand this confusing relationship and the
way cardiac diseases progress and create symptoms, we
have devoted a special part of this web site to the understanding
of cardiac diseases. Pictures, graphic illustrations
and animations are used to explain conditions such as
coronary artery disease, heart
attack, CHF (heart failure),
etc.
However, before we begin review of the various diseases, let us first go through the evaluation process that the physician or care-giver goes though to help suspect or make a specific diagnosis. All this begins with the patient's history that can be reviewed by clicking the next button on the right corners of this page
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