Shortness of breath caused by heart disease develops gradually. Therefore, it can take time to notice. Anadolu Medical Center Cardiologist Associate Professor Ertan Ökmen emphasizes that individuals who tire more quickly and become breathless despite minimal exertion should take these symptoms seriously and consult a cardiology specialist.
The underlying causes of shortness of breath are often related to heart conditions. The most common of these conditions is heart failure. Heart failure and subsequent shortness of breath occur due to the blockage of coronary arteries, the loss of function in the blocked vessel, and the heart muscle's inability to contract properly.
One-third of the population in Turkey suffers from hypertension. Shortness of breath experienced while walking or climbing stairs could be a sign of heart disease. Therefore, conditions such as heart failure, hypertension, and vascular occlusion should be investigated. Additionally, heart valve diseases can cause shortness of breath in advanced stages. There are two types of shortness of breath caused by blood pressure: one enlarges the heart, leading to heart failure, while the other reduces the heart's flexibility and thickens its walls, causing similar problems. When a patient complains of shortness of breath, the cardiology department asks about hypertension, family or personal history of heart attacks, and any vascular occlusion. Smoking can contribute to both lung problems and vascular occlusion.
Doctors can detect valve-related problems during the heart examination. A previous heart attack can lead to shortness of breath, which can be identified via an ECG (Electrocardiogram). During a stress test, the doctor can observe when shortness of breath appears (at what minute or distance) while the patient walks on a treadmill and whether blood pressure increases. The test that definitively diagnoses whether shortness of breath is related to the heart is echocardiography. This test easily reveals the heart’s strength, size, function, wall thickness, valves, and structural abnormalities. Based on the results of these tests, the cause of shortness of breath can be determined to be heart-related with 90% accuracy.
Individuals experiencing shortness of breath are advised to consult a cardiologist as soon as possible if they:
Last Updated Date: 15 January 2016
Publication Date: 16 October 2015
Cardiology Department
Cardiology Department
Cardiology Department
Cardiology Department
Cardiology Department
Cardiology Department
Cardiology Department
Cardiology Department
Cardiology Department
Cardiology Department
Monday, August 21, 2023
Hypertension Does Not Show Symptoms Without Causing Organ Damage
Monday, August 21, 2023
Cancer Patients Should Not Neglect Their Heart
Monday, August 21, 2023
Interventional Cardiology - What healthcare services do we offer in our department?
Monday, August 21, 2023
Oncocardiology
Monday, August 21, 2023
What Causes Chest Pain?
Monday, August 21, 2023
Hypertension Disease
Monday, August 21, 2023
Hypertension: What It Is, Symptoms, and Treatment
Monday, August 21, 2023
Capillary Leak Syndrome: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Monday, August 21, 2023
Heart Palpitations: What They Are, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Monday, August 21, 2023
Thickening of the Heart Muscle and Hypertension
Monday, August 21, 2023
Thickening of the Heart Muscle
Monday, August 21, 2023
Symptoms and Treatment Methods of Rheumatic Heart Disease (Acute Rheumatic Fever)
Monday, August 21, 2023
What is Pulse? What Should the Ideal Pulse Rate Be?
Monday, August 21, 2023
What is Blood Pressure? Symptoms of High and Low Blood Pressure
Monday, August 21, 2023
What is a Murmur? How is Murmur Treatment Done?
Monday, August 21, 2023
Angiography from the wrist (radial angiography) allows for same-day discharge
Monday, August 21, 2023
Can virtual angiography be performed on every patient?
Friday, September 15, 2023
Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
What is Heparin and What Does it Do?
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women are Different
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
What is Marfan Syndrome, Its Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Friday, February 9, 2024
What is Good for Low Blood Pressure? Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure
Featured Cancer Articles
Related Medical Articles
Doctors
