differential diagnosis

Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)
caused by a blood clot that stops blood flow in a heart (coronary) artery
Signs and symptoms :
Chest pain (similar to angina) –travel down to jaw, left arm or both arms
Sweat
Feel sick
Feel like fainting

Atherosclerosis
hardening of the arteries
vessel walls become less elastic and cannot dilate
Calcium deposits
Symptoms    :
Change of color of the legs
Cold legs or feet
Leg pain (intermittent claudication)
Occurs with exercise (such as walking)
Relieved with rest
Loss of hair on the legs and/or feet
Muscle pain in the thighs, calves, or feet
Numbness of the legs or feet at rest
Paleness or blueness (cyanosis)
Walking/gait abnormalities
Weak or absent pulse in the limb

Angina
narrowing of the coronary arteries
as a result of arteriosclerosis
Symptoms :
pressure,
heaviness,
tightening,
squeezing, or
aching across the chest, particularly behind the breastbone.

Heart Failure
Heart can’t pump enough blood to your body
Cannot pump with enough force, or both
Symptoms :
shortness of breath
fatigue
swelling in feet, ankles, legs, and abdomen

Myocardial Ischemia
coronary arteries become narrowed or clogged
decrease the amount of blood that goes to the heart muscle.
cannot supply enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart
Symptoms :
Chest pain
discomfort

Hypertension
high pressure (tension) in the arteries
Normal blood pressure : below 120/80;
"pre-hypertension“ : 120/80 -- 139/89
High blood pressure :140/90
Symptoms :
headache,
dizziness,
shortness of breath, and
blurred vision

Hypercholesterolemia
excess cholesterol in the bloodstream is deposited in the walls of blood vessels
forms clumps (plaque) ,narrow and harden artery walls
Symptoms :
Chest pain
buildup of excess cholesterol in other tissues.
Achilles tendons and tendons in the hands and fingers
skin of the eyelids

Deep Vein Thrombosis
A blood clot (thrombus) in the deep venous system of the leg (not dangerous)
life-threatening when a piece of the blood clot breaks off (embolus) travels downstream through the heart into the pulmonary circulation system
Signs and symptoms :
pain,
swelling,
warmth, and
redness.

Pulmonary Embolism
blockage in a lung artery,
usually due to a blood clot that traveled to the lung from a vein in the leg
Damage to other organs in your body from not getting enough oxygen
Symptoms :
shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, coughing, or coughing up blood
swelling of the leg or along the vein in the leg, pain or tenderness in the

Cardiac Arrest
sudden loss of cardiac function, when the heart abruptly stops beating
pulse and blood pressure will be absent.
Symptoms :
chest or other upper body discomfort and
shortness of breath

Rheumatoid Heart Disease
a complication of rheumatic fever in which the heart valves are damaged. 
Rheumatic fever : an inflammatory disease that begins with a strep throat
affect connective tissue throughout the body, especially in the heart, joints, brain and skin.
Symptoms :
sore throat, fever and feel ill
very painful, swollen and red joint -- usually a large joint like a knee, ankle, elbow or shoulder
Skin rashes

Congenital Heart Disease
defects can involve the interior walls of the heart, valves inside the heart, or the arteries and veins
change the normal flow of blood through the heart.
Symptoms :
Rapid breathing
Cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails)
Fatigue (tiredness)
Poor blood circulation
Chest pain