According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 610,000 people die each year from heart problems alone in the United States. Men and women are affected by heart disease for various reasons related to a particular lifestyle.
However, there are many signs and warnings that tell us about heart problems that we should be more aware of. We have collected 8 very common heart disease warning signs that you should pay attention to if you notice them.
Signs Heart Is Not Working Properly
8. Pain That Spreads To The Arm
Many men experience pain in the left arm, while women experience the same pain in one or both arms. Some women also said they experienced unusual elbow pain before having a heart attack.
This is because the pain in your heart travels to the spinal cord, where many nerves in the body are connected and your brain is confused and thinks that your arm is in real pain when that is not the case.
7. Coughing That Won’t Quit
Coughing may be derived from various issues and can also be a sign of cardiovascular disease. A persistent cough that produces a pink liquid that contains blood is very common with heart failure.
However, cough is a sub-symptom of a much more serious symptom, which is dyspnea and sudden loss of breath.
6. Extreme And Unusual Levels Of Anxiety
Several studies have shown that people who suffer from extreme anxiety from a very young age are prone to heart disease. Anxiety can be caused by a very stressful lifestyle or by various disorders, including panic disorder and phobic anxiety.
Some of the effects of anxiety on your heart include tachycardia, increased blood pressure, and decreased heart rate.
5. Swollen Legs, Ankles, And Feet
When your heart is not pumping well, fluid from the blood vessels leaks into the surrounding tissues, and the legs and feet are the most common places of distress, simply due to gravity.
This is called peripheral edema, and many people who have it do not have heart disease. Still, it is a very common symptom among heart disease patients and you should pay close attention to it.
4. Lack Of Appetite And Feeling Nauseous
Many heart disease patients show a lack of appetite and/or nausea, even though they have only eaten a few bites. The reason for this is an accumulation of fluid around the liver and intestine, which interferes with proper digestion.
These symptoms are usually followed by abdominal pain and if you feel all together you should see your doctor immediately.
3. Unusual Rashes Or Spots
Two separate research projects, carried out by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, showed that eczema and herpes zoster are high-risk factors for heart disease.
Those who had eczema were found to have a 48% chance of experiencing high blood pressure and 29% high cholesterol. Additionally, those who had shingles were 59% more likely to have a heart attack than people who did not have shingles.
2. Losing Consciousness Or Fainting
Feeling lightheaded and losing consciousness is very common among heart patients. When the heart is not pumping blood well, it is because the blood flow is blocked by a blocked artery or by a narrowing of a valve.
If you experience shortness of breath and you faint for a short period of time, call a doctor immediately and check your heart.
1. Your Skin Becomes Paler Or Takes On A Bluish Color
This is not one of the most common symptoms, but when it does appear, it is due to reduced blood flow, a decrease in the number of red blood cells, and maybe a sign that your heart is not pumping blood as it should.
Shock is the main reason for this symptom and paleness can appear throughout the body or in a certain part of the body, for example, a limb.
However, if you notice paleness, don’t panic. Check to see if you are experiencing shock or if there are any other problems, such as anemia.
Remember that prevention is the key to solving any future problem. Trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, where exercise plays an important role and staying as far away from smoking and drinking as possible, will result in a healthy heart.
These symptoms do not necessarily appear in all patients with heart disease, but they are some of the most common warning signs of this condition. In the comments section, let us know if this article was helpful to you.
