Symptoms of Cardiac Neurosis

Cardiac neurosis—also known as functional cardiac discomfort, neurocirculatory asthenia, effort syndrome, or cardiovascular neurosis—is referred to internationally as neurogenic circulatory dysfunction, neurogenic circulatory asthenia, or hyperreactivity syndrome. It is a specific subtype of neurosis and an extremely common cardiovascular disorder. So, what symptoms does cardiac neurosis present? The following section addresses this question.

Symptoms of Cardiac Neurosis

1. Shortness of breath upon lying down

Patients develop dyspnea several minutes after lying flat; symptoms subside slightly upon sitting upright. This may indicate heart failure. When supine, venous return increases, leading to elevated airway resistance and resultant dyspnea.

2. Chest tightness and chest pain

If emotional factors and other organ system abnormalities (e.g., respiratory disorders) are ruled out, myocardial ischemia should be considered. Persistent chest tightness lasting several minutes—or severe chest pain—may signal angina pectoris or even acute myocardial infarction.

3. Sudden tightness in clothing or footwear

Many people initially attribute sudden tightness in clothes or shoes to weight gain. However, in patients with cardiac disease, this may reflect impaired cardiac function. Reduced cardiac output leads to decreased renal perfusion and diminished water excretion, resulting in lower-limb edema and weight gain.

4. Loss of appetite

In addition to anorexia, patients with compromised cardiac function may experience abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and upper abdominal pain—often attributable to gastrointestinal congestion secondary to right-sided heart failure.