Disorders that affect the heart or blood vessels are called cardiovascular disorders. These disorders are usually divided into heart (cardiac) disorders and peripheral blood vessel disorders. Heart disorders affect the heart, its valves, and the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle (coronary arteries). Peripheral blood vessel disorders affect the blood vessels of the arms, legs, and trunk (except those supplying the heart). Disorders that affect the blood vessels supplying the brain are called cerebrovascular disorders. Stroke is an example (see Stroke (CVA): Overview of Stroke).

No single symptom unmistakably indicates a heart disorder, but certain symptoms suggest the possibility, and several symptoms together may make the diagnosis almost certain. Doctors identify symptoms by interviewing the person to obtain the medical history and by doing a physical examination. Often, diagnostic procedures are done to confirm the diagnosis. However, sometimes a heart disorder, even when serious, causes no symptoms until it reaches a late stage. Routine health checkups or a visit to the doctor for another reason may uncover a heart disorder that has caused no symptom. Sometimes doctors do procedures to screen for a heart disorder even when there is no evidence of it.

Symptoms of peripheral blood vessel disorders vary depending on where the affected blood vessels are located. Symptoms may include pain, muscle cramps, muscle fatigue, light-headedness, swelling, numbness, and a change in skin color of the affected part of the body.

Last full review/revision October 2012 by Lyall A. J. Higginson, MD