Discomfort in the chest area can be a cause for alarm. Therefore, being aware of the symptoms and causes is necessary so panic doesn’t set in and proper action is taken. Chest Pain Signs The symptoms will depend on what is causing the discomfort. Angina is a heart related ailment. This happens when there is insufficient oxygen supply to the heart. The major warning sign is pain behind or at the breast section. The feeling is that of a crushing weight on the chest. The pain usually spreads to the shoulders and arms. A heart attack displays similar but more severe signs. Pneumonia causes chest discomfort when coughing. A blood clot around the lungs leads to very intense pain. Other possible causes are muscle inflammation, tendon strains and an injured rib. Gallbladder and ulcer problems are other possible causes. Chest Pain Diagnosis Several diagnostic tests are performed to determine the origin. Monitoring the blood pressure is one test. The breathing rate will be examined. A comprehensive...

There are two ways this can happen. The first is when a blood clot blocks a vessel delivering blood to the brain. The second is when a blood vessel bursts and blood spills out onto the brain. Stroke Signs In a few cases there are no symptoms. Some people may not realize that they are having one. The symptoms may occur sporadically or appear progressively. Some of the minor and major signs include the following. The first is a feeling of lethargy. Some people will feel very sleepy. Others may fall unconscious. In severe cases, the person will have trouble speaking. The thinking process is affected and comprehending others will be hard. Among the other signs are trouble in reading and writing. Headaches will be frequent. Balance is lost. Vision is affected and motor skills are lost. Stroke Diagnosis There are several tests that will be performed. A neurological exam is used to determine the state of the brain. An extensive eye test will be done to assess any effects. The arteries will be...

Marked by the incapacity of the heart to supply sufficient flow of blood to the body, congestive heart failure is a life-threatening medical condition caused by a weakened state of the heart. Some of the contributory factors include chronic heart problems like heart arrhythmias, congenital heart defects and myocarditis. Other possible causes include severe heart muscle damage or cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. People can understand this severe health problem by taking a quick look at the different treatments, diagnosis and symptoms of congestive heart failure. Signs of Congestive Heart Failure To confirm the possibility of congestive heart failure, people can look at the different minor and major symptoms of this serious health problem. The early signs of chronic heart failure include weakness, fatigue and irregular heartbeat. There are also other uncomfortable signs such as wheezing, reduced exercise abilities and shortness of breath, particularly when...

Stroke results due to blockage of blood flow from the heart to the brain. This condition can lead to arrest of brain function and other debilitating conditions and in some major cases even death. Once the normal flow and supply of blood to the brain becomes insufficient, brain cells slowly die due to lack of nutrients and oxygen to sustain its functions. There are various forms of stroke. It consists of minor and major symptoms which typically depend on the extent of brain damage sustained. Immediate recognition of the symptoms of minor stroke is the key to prevent major catastrophic consequences of stroke. Signs and Symptoms of Mild Strokes The symptoms of minor strokes usually vary depending which artery of the brain is affected. But there are common symptoms of minor strokes that one should be aware of since most mild strokes often occur unnoticed. These symptoms usually involve numbness and weakness on the face, leg and arm. The weakness usually occurs on one side which is on the...

The menstrual cycle ends for most women around age 50. In some cases it takes place a few years earlier or later. But regardless of age, the symptoms are pretty much the same. Menopause Signs The most obvious sign of course, is an irregular menstrual cycle. The cycle doesn’t just end abruptly. What happens is that it becomes irregular until it stops completely. But there are other symptoms. These include headaches and difficulty in concentrating. A bit of memory loss is also experienced. Other major signs are irritability and frequent mood swings. Some women also have trouble sleeping. Night sweats are also quite common. There may also be breast or hair changes. Women may also experience some heart palpitations and tire early. The severity of the symptoms varies among women. Menopause Diagnosis One should consult a doctor once these symptoms manifest so the right course of action can be taken. Usually a description of the symptoms will enable a doctor to know if the menstrual cycle is...