1. Chest Pain or Chest Discomfort

Few symptoms are more alarming than chest pain. In the minds of many people chest pain equals heart pain. And while many other conditions can cause chest pain cardiac disease is so common - and so dangerous - that the symptom of chest pain should never be dismissed out of hand as being insignificant.

"Chest pain" is an imprecise term. It is often used to describe any pain pressure squeezing choking numbness or any other discomfort in the chest neck or upper abdomen and is often associated with pain in the jaw head or arms. It can last from less than a second to days or weeks can occur frequently or rarely and can occur sporadically or predictably. This description of chest pain is obviously very vague and as you might expect many medical conditions aside from heart disease can produce symptoms like this.

2. Heart Palpitations

Palpitations an unusual awareness of the heartbeat is an extremely common symptom. Most people who complain of palpitations describe them either as "skips" in the heartbeat (that is a pause often followed by a particularly strong beat) or as periods of rapid and/or irregular heartbeats.

Most people with palpitations have some type of cardiac arrhythmia -- abnormal heart rhythms. There are many types of arrhythmias and almost all can cause palpitations but the most common causes of palpitations are premature atrial complexes (PACs) premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) episodes of atrial fibrillation and episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

Unfortunately on occasion palpitations can signal a more dangerous heart arrhythmia such as ventricular tach

3. Lightheadedness or Dizziness

Episodes of lightheadedness or dizziness can have many causes including anemia (low blood count) and other blood disorders dehydration viral illnesses prolonged bed rest diabetes thyroid disease gastrointestinal disturbances liver disease kidney disease vascular disease neurological disorders dysautonomias vasovagal episodes heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. Because so many different conditions can produce these symptoms anybody experiencing episodes of lightheadedness or dizziness ought to have a thorough and complete examination by a physician. And since disorders of so many organ systems can cause these symptoms a good general internist or family doctor may be the best place to start.

4. Syncope (Fainting/Loss of Consciousness)

Syncope is a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness or fainting. It is a common symptom - most people pass out at least once in their lives - and often does not indicate a serious medical problem. However sometimes syncope indicates a dangerous or even life-threatening condition so when syncope occurs it is important to figure out the cause.