APPROXIMATELY 11 percent of men and 9 percent of women in the UK are diagnosed with multiple symptoms heart disease as well as blood circulation. Both diseases are very dangerous and cause potentially serious heart problems.
BHF Professor of Cardiology John Wheatley at the BHF Center for Research Excellence at the University of Edinburgh, David Newby, said there are some specific symptoms of heart disease to look out for.
“There are more than 11 symptoms of heart disease, which means it’s time for someone to see a doctor,” said Newby.
Also read: 4 Lifestyle that Keep You from Heart Disease
Launch from BHF, Wednesday (30/9/2020), let’s identify the 11 most common symptoms of heart disease. Here’s the review.
1. Chest pain
If you experience chest pain and feel very unwell, you should contact a health facility. A heart attack is usually described as a feeling of heaviness, tightness, or pressure in the chest.
“If chest pain occurs when you exert yourself, but goes away when you stop, it is most likely angina. That still means you have to go and see a doctor,” explained Newby.
2. Feeling sick
Not every feeling of nausea is the same as a heart attack. But if you experience intense chest pain even while sitting doing nothing and still feel nauseous, that’s a good time to call an ambulance.
3. Abdominal pain
Because the heart, throat, have a path between the mouth and the stomach, burning or indigestion can be a symptom of a person having heart problems.
4. Sweating
Sweating when you go to the gym or because the weather is so hot, nothing to worry about. But feeling hot and humid along with chest pain can be a sign that you have a heart problem.
Also read: Heart disease can attack young people, note the tips to prevent it
5. Foot pain
If you feel the sensation of cramping in your calves while walking, it may be a good idea to see your doctor, as that could be a marker of PAD (peripheral artery disease). This is most common in smokers and people with diabetes.
6. Arm pain
If the pain goes down the arm, especially the left arm, or to the neck then watch out for disorders of the heart rather than indigestion. If it doesn’t go away, or if you already know you have heart disease, it’s better to seek emergency medical advice.
7. Jaw or back pain
“With a heart attack, it can even happen that the pain is felt in the jaw or back,” explains Newby.
8. Feeling choked
The word ‘angina’ actually means choking, and sometimes a feeling of tightness or pain can reach the throat. People tend to feel a choking sensation and the condition persists, it’s best to contact a medical facility immediately.
9. Swelling in the eyes
Swelling should not be ignored, especially if the ankles become very large. This can be a marker of heart failure. But swelling also has many other causes. It could also be because you took the wrong medication. For example, blood pressure medications can cause ankle swelling.
10. Severe fatigue
Feeling tired all the time can be a symptom of heart failure, as well as other conditions. “A lot of my patients say they are tired, whether they have heart failure or not, whether they have angina or not! That’s difficult, because it’s so nonspecific,” explains Newby.
11. Irregular heartbeat
“This is a hot topic right now, there’s a lot of focus on diagnosing irregular heartbeats. I did an audit of the heart monitors we gave people to investigate and from about 700 people,” said Newby.
He found that only about 20 experienced atrial fibrillation which can increase the risk of stroke. Most people just have an extra ectopic pulse, which is usually harmless.
“I suggest that a spike in heart rate is usually harmless and nothing to worry about. Being aware of your own heartbeat is very common and nothing to worry about,” he concluded.
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