Heart disease is the No. 1 global cause of death with 17.3 million deaths each year[1], it comes from narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can cause a heart attack. There are not only symptoms that you should be aware off, but it is preventable in many cases with simple lifestyle changes.
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1. Chest Discomfort
Image source: www.youtube.comPinching, burning, tightness, pressure or feeling like a truck has parked on your chest, should be a fairly good indication you have discomfort in your chest. If you experience anything like this for more than a minute, regardless of if you are doing exercise or eating chips on the couch in front of the TV, you need to be contacting 911.
2. Nausea, Indigestion, Heartburn, Or Stomach Pain
Image source: www.ask.comAlthough these symptoms are not usually what you would be thinking could be a heart attack coming through, they are. Nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or a stomach pain are often a more common sign in women, not to mention can be simply that you have indigestion, however, one should always be aware of them, especially when in conjunction with one or more of the other symptoms mentioned in this article.
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3. Shortness Of Breath
Image source: www.thecompanystore.comShort of breath, especially when you are doing the least active activities in your day – such as laying down in bed to sleep – could be a sight that your heart is not circulating the blood around your body well enough and is something you should take notice of.
4. Sweating
Image source: www.wonderopolis.orgIf you break out in a cold sweat and there’s no apparent reason, something is wrong. Sweating is the natural way to keep your body cool during exertion. If you are not exerting your muscles but you are sweating, it might be because your heart is working extra hard to pump blood through clogged arteries. The sweat is your body’s attempt to regulate your body temperature during your heart’s difficult workout. Clammy hands are also a sign, and night sweats are more common among women. If you experience sweating along with another sign, call 911. Some people may simply be sweaty people, however, if you a breaking out in a cold sweat for no reason, then you body is trying to keep cool for one reason or another. If you are not doing anything strenuous, it could be a sign that your heart is working extra hard to pump blood through clogged arteries. If you experience this sweating along with other signs, then give 911 a call straight away.
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5. Erectile dysfunction
Image source: www.flickr.comAn often touchy subject, but a study in Australia back in 2013 showed that erectile dysfunction is linked with heart disease. This is due to a plaque buildup in the blood stream, again, something to be aware of as much as possible.
6. Exhaustion
Image source: www.blog.automart.co.zaIf you are panting to get up a flight of stairs, or play with your kids when you are used to running 10km easily or even 1km, then you should get checked out. It could be something like, well being tired, however, it could be that the heart is not again circulating enough blood to meet the demands.
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7. Pain That Spreads To The Arms
Image source: www.parentinginpublic.comPain that spreads from your chest to your arm or down the left side of your body is another classic sign of a heart attack already in progress. Sometimes, the pain might come and go. What is causing the pain? When the heart is deprived of oxygen, it sends out a distress message throughout the nervous system. Shooting pain from down your arms, particularly the left side of your arm is a ‘classic’ sign that a heart attack is already in progress. This is due to the ‘distress call’ your heart makes when it realises it is being deprived of oxygen and sends neural signals throughout the nervous system.
8. Swelling In Your Legs, Feet, And Ankles
Image source: www.survivalmonkey.comSwelling is an early warning sign. If your heart does not pump blood as effectively as it should, the blood can back up in the veins. The result of this is swelling. Usually, this happens in the legs, feet and ankles. Swelling, like when you ride on an aeroplane, is a sign again of lack of circulation. Your heart is not effectively pumping the blood around your body as it should, if again in sync with a range of the other symptoms, then see your doctor.
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9. Palpitations
Image source: www.en.wikipedia.orgIf you feel like your heart is pounding too fast, it has been quoted as ‘bursting out of your chest’ then these are palpitations and should be taken very seriously. If you suffer from atrial fibrillation, then you are five to seven times more likely to suffer from a stroke than the general population. So this is something that if you feel you are getting palpitations, you should always get checked, as over a short to medium term, you could be putting stress on your heart that can never be repeated.
10. Fainting
Image source: www.iran-daily.comPassing out, fainting is typically caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain, in particular from low blood pressure. Sometimes this can happen if you get up too quickly, however, if it occurs for no real reason, then it could be time to see the doctors as your heart may not be pumping a normal amount of blood to your brain.
