Knowing the signs that may indicate heart problems can help prevent a heart attack or make it easier to diagnose heart disease such as heart failure....CONTINUE READING
Individuals who are most likely to suffer from heart disease are those who have a family history of heart problems, are overweight, smoke and have other associated diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is an example of serious heart disease that can occur in these people and is treated through surgery.
According to Healthline – the 12 signs that can indicate problems at the heart level are:
1. Anxiety: a heart attack can cause a lot of anxiety and fear of death, moments before it happens;
2. Chest discomfort: a classic symptom of a heart attack;
3. Persistent coughing: may be the result of fluid build-up in the lungs due to heart failure;
4. Dizziness: feeling dizzy and fainting may occur moments before a heart attack or in cases such as arrhythmia or hypotension;
5. Fatigue: feeling very tired all the time may be a sign of heart failure, however this symptom is common in other conditions such as depression or anaemia.
6. Nausea or lack of appetite: this may be related to abdominal swelling caused by fluid retention or associated with the pain of the heart attack;
7. Pain in other parts of the body: pain may start in the chest and spread to the shoulders, arms, elbows, back, neck, jaw or abdomen or be related to a heart attack;
8. Rapid and irregular pulse: when accompanied by weakness, dizziness or shortness of breath it may be evidence of a heart attack, heart failure or an arrhythmia;
9. Shortness of breath: may also indicate the onset of a heart attack;
10. Sudden, cold sweating: may indicate a heart attack, hypotension, hypertension or arrhythmia.
11. Swelling: swelling of the legs and feet may be a sign of heart failure, as heart failure can cause fluid retention;
12. Extreme weakness: this may occur in the days before a heart attack or in association with heart failure or hypotension.
The greater the number of symptoms felt, the greater the chance of heart failure, or even a heart attack. Therefore, it is important to make an appointment with a cardiologist for a thorough evaluation and subsequent treatment. In addition to this, it is important to remember that women die more from heart attacks than men.
