what are the symptoms of weakening heart?

Question: Im having this constant pain, sometime light to unbearable pain right below in the middle of my rib cage. it started last 20th of september, been to a doctor, checked and says I'm okay and medicine was given but since then the pain just come & go that I think its not normal. May i know what could be the cause of this pain and will it affect my heart, by the way I am already 40yrs of age. thanks a lot.

Answers:
The symptoms of heart disease depend on the cause, severity, and type of heart disease. Common signs and symptoms of heart disease (not just of heart attack) include the following:

• Chest pain
• Abdominal distress (including nausea)
• Bluish color to the skin
• Enlarged neck veins
• Fainting
• Palpitations (unusually strong heart beats)
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the legs
• Weakness and fatigue
• Coughing
• Loss of appetite and weight loss

There are three steps you can take to reduce your risk for heart disease:

The first step is understanding and managing any personal risk factors for heart disease, such as risk from family history of heart disease, risk from being obese, risk from smoking or abusing alcohol… Take our Heart Disease Risk Assessment to see what risks you may have.

The next step involves a lifestyle that includes:

a heart-healthy diet
maintenance of a healthy weight
adequate physical activity
no tobacco products
adequate sleep
management of stress
The final step involves vigorous management of any existing diseases, especially:

diabetes
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
obesity
Diagnosing Heart Disease

Heart disease is diagnosed based on individual medical history (signs and symptoms, infectious illness…) and an individual medical exam by a health care provider. A number of medical tests can be used to help diagnose heart disease based on the findings of the history and exam. Common tests include blood and urine tests, cardiac catheterization, EKG, chest X-ray, treadmill stress test, or an echocardiogram.

Treating Heart Disease

Treatment for heart disease is individualized based on the medical history and exam as well as test findings. Medication is a common form of treatment of heart disease. Some medications work to lower the amount of blood the heart has to push around (for example, diuretics that cause frequent urination), while some medications work by strengthening the muscle of the heart itself (for example, Digitalis). Some medications work to help the heart relax and rebuild (for example, Captopril) while others help prevent blood clots from forming (for example, Coumadin).

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Sometimes heartburn can mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. The next time your chest pains occur take an over-the-counter heartburn medication. Check with your doctor first to see if its okay to take with the medication he has you on. If the heartburn medication relieves the pain, you may be suffering from GERD(gastroesophageal reflux disease). If that doesn't help be persistent with your doctor about getting to the cause of your chest pain. Good luck to you.

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