Is it a heart attack, dissection, aneurysm, or heart failure? Here are the symptoms.

16.04.2025 13:50

After the aortic dissection experienced by the Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, attention has turned once again to the silently progressing fatal cardiovascular diseases. Professor Dr. Cüneyt Koçaş, who listed the symptoms, stated, "If there is chest pain that radiates to the back, it could be a dissection. If there is shortness of breath and leg swelling, this indicates heart failure. Especially those in the risk group should not neglect their regular check-ups."

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Chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue... All of these can be warnings. However, if a diagnosis is not made, it can have life-threatening consequences. Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Koçaş explained four serious cardiovascular diseases that are often confused with each other.

4 MOST COMMON HEART AND VASCULAR DISEASES

Among the most common heart and vascular diseases in Turkey are heart attack, aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, and heart failure, which can be confused with each other in terms of both symptoms and effects. Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Koçaş from the Cardiology Department of Biruni University Medical Faculty Hospital stated that making the correct distinction between these diseases can be life-saving.

Prof. Dr. Koçaş said, "Chest pain is always attributed to a heart attack. But this pain can sometimes be a sign of a torn artery, sometimes of the heart being strained, and sometimes of a completely silent progressing aneurysm," emphasizing the importance of using the correct diagnostic methods in every suspected case.

SYMPTOMS OF HEART AND VASCULAR DISEASES:

- Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)

Symptoms:

• Radiation of pain to the left arm, neck, or jaw



• Sweating, nausea, sudden fatigue



• Shortness of breath, feeling of collapse

Diagnosis and Treatment:

• Diagnosis with EKG and troponin test



• Coronary angiography



• Placement of a stent in the blocked artery



• Anticoagulants and thrombolytic drugs

- Aortic Dissection

Symptoms:

• Sudden onset, tearing chest or back pain



• Fainting, shock state



• Low blood pressure, difference in pulse between legs and arms

Diagnosis and Treatment:

• Diagnosis with CT angiography



• Type A (close to the heart): Emergency open-heart surgery



• Type B (distant): Medication for blood pressure control, stenting may be required

- Aortic Aneurysm

Symptoms:

• Generally asymptomatic



• Sometimes pain radiating to the back or abdomen



• If it ruptures, sudden drop in blood pressure, internal bleeding, shock

Diagnosis and Treatment:

• Early diagnosis with CT, MRI, or abdominal ultrasound



• Surgical or endovascular stenting in aneurysms reaching a certain size



• Intervention before rupture is essential

- Heart Failure

Symptoms:

• Shortness of breath with exertion or at rest



• Swelling in the legs and feet



• Fatigue, waking up at night with shortness of breath



• Rapid weight gain (fluid retention)

Diagnosis and Treatment:

• Measurement of heart contraction strength with echocardiography



• Medication treatment: ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics



• In advanced cases, pacemaker or heart transplant

"SYMBOLS ARE NOT IMPORTANT, COMBINATION IS"

Prof. Dr. Koçaş continued: "Patients should not say 'I only have chest pain.' Because if there is chest pain + radiation to the back, it could be dissection. If there is shortness of breath and leg edema, this is heart failure. If there is no pain but there is dilation in imaging, this is an aneurysm. If coronary vessels are open but the patient is deteriorating, dissection should definitely be considered.

BE MORE CAREFUL IF YOU ARE IN THE RISK GROUP:

• Individuals over 60 years old



• Patients with hypertension



• Smokers



• Those with high cholesterol and arteriosclerosis



• Those with a family history of cardiovascular disease



• Those with Marfan syndrome and other connective tissue diseases

"DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR CHECK-UPS"

Diseases such as heart attack, dissection, or aneurysm become non-fatal when diagnosed early. Especially individuals in the risk group should not neglect their regular check-ups. Remember: If the correct diagnosis is made at the right time, the course of the disease changes."