Modern lifestyle and day to day stress has made heart diseases one of the leading health risks people face today. This article will outline just some of the signs of heart disease.
In addition, heart disease can comprise of:
- Arrhythmia
- Angina
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Heart failure
- Infections related to heart
Most people think that the symptoms of heart disease are obvious, such as a sudden crushing feeling in the chest and shooting pains down the arms, followed by a fall to the floor.
But you may develop heart disease without even knowing it, as some heart symptoms don't even happen in your chest.
Knowing the hidden signs of heart disease is crucial to get early treatment and prevent more serious health issues.
Thus, we have put together this quick guide to six of the most alarming hidden signs with their medical reasons which signifies that all is not well with your ticker.
- Light headedness and dizziness
Random dizziness or feeling faint can signpost the problems like an irregular heart rhythm or even a heart attack
Medical Reason- Drop in Blood pressure or an abnormal heart rate can cause reduced blood supply to the brain.
- Reduced tolerance to exercise
Struggling with physical activities that you previously found easy could be an indication that your heart is struggling.
Medical Reason- When your heart becomes unhealthy, it is less effective at pumping oxygen-rich blood to your muscles, and so physical activity becomes harder.
- Spontaneous sweating
Perspiring at random moments, like while sitting or relaxing, could be an indication of heart disease.
Medical Reason- Heart problem can result in over-activation of the sympathetic nervous system which can make you sweat at unexpected times.
- Memory Loss
Memory loss and befuddled thinking is an understated sign, might first be noticed by friends or family before you do.
Medical Reason- Heart problem may cause restricted blood flow to the brain leading to injury to the brain cells resulting in memory loss.
- Swelling in feet
Your feet might feel sore and visibly swollen with no obvious explanation. This may go together with sudden weight gain.
Medical Reason- If your heart is not pumping well, the blood returning to the heart gets backed up causing the fluid to accumulate in the tissues of your legs, ankles and feet.
- Non-chest pain
Chest pain is not the only sign of a heart problem. The pain can also be felt in shoulders, arms, elbows, jaw or neck.
Medical Reason-It is termed "referred pain", i.e. a person feels pain in an area away from the actual source of the pain. This can occur when strong pain stimulus running along nerves overpower nearby nerves, causing pain to be felt elsewhere.
Prevention remains the best cure, whether you have symptoms or not. So, follow simple rules like no smoking, eat good, do exercise, stay healthy and your heart will remain healthy.
Please leave comments or questions below.
Hi Ronald. I have recently heard a close relative commenting on a couple of symptoms you have listed here. I’m a bit shock and I’ll immediately share your post with her. It’s so important to detect these issues on time. And paying attention to these hidden signs can be a lifesaver. Thank you very much!
Thank you for sharing your benefits from this article Henry. That is what makes it all worth while. And regarding your relative, it may of course not be the case, but at least better safe than sorry. She may at least want to be checked on as a precaution. An ECG never hurts and can reveal a lot.
Roland
Appreciate the signs of heart disease. I’m at an age where many have succumbed to heart failure. I suppose it is not just age but after 60 it becomes more prevalent. I was aware of a few of the alarms you mentioned but the swelling feet and non-chest pain were new to me. One can never be over informed in this area, thank you for posting this information. Very good to know. Cheers.
Thank you for your clearly stated observations Myles. You are of course absolutely right that we can never be too informed.
Roland
I am always afraid that I will get a heart disease one day. First, it is hereditary and second I am always in a constant stress because of what I do. Memory Loss would never be a factor on my list to consider heart disease, wow. The science behind it is right though. The heart is pumping the blood after all. The swelling is very unexpected as well. Thank you for sharing all these common symptoms.
Thank you for your observations Nuttanee, and I hope you will never have to experience any of these symptoms, but it is always good to be aware at least.
Speaking of memory loss, this would refer to short term memory loss, not the kind that just comes with old age.
In fact my older sister, who is now 92 warned me years ago before I was 65 that when I turned 65 I would start to lose my memory, and I think she was right. LOL What she did not tell me was that when I became 80 I would start to lose everything else !!
Actually I am not complaining because I am blessed with good health for my age (82).
Roland
Heart disease often develops over time. You may have early signs or symptoms long before you have serious heart problems. Or, you may not realize you are developing heart disease. The warning signs of heart disease may not be obvious. Also, not every person has the same symptoms, reading this article has added to my knowledge on this as well. I’m happy I came across this article.
I appreciate your comments, and you are absolutely right about how different people will develop and exhibit signs of heart problems differently over different time frames. That is why it is so important to be aware of and be able to recognize early signs of heart disease.
Roland
Nice use of visuals in your article. “Random dizziness or feeling faint can signpost the problems like an irregular heart rhythm or even a heart attack”,this sentence of the article was confusing for me, did you mean to say that? I enjoyed the education about the different signs about heart disease. I loved how you explained the medical reason for each sign of heart disease. Nice article.
Thank you for your observations Ronald.
Yes, I did mean to say what I did because dizziness and/or feeling faint can just be an indication of low blood pressure, but also can be a sign of irregular heart beat or the beginning of a heart attack. If it is a heart attack, however, it will likely be accompanied by the other well known signs of a heart attack.
Roland