One in every five deaths in the United States results from heart disease. This situation is dire, and people should understand more about the symptoms of this illness to avoid them. So, what are the signs of an unhealthy heart and what should you do if you discover them?
Below, we list several symptoms of heart disease or other heart problems. As you read through, you should check to see if they match up with your situation. If they do, you can always contact your physician for a consultation.
Angina
Angina is a presentation of several different kinds of chest pain. It could appear as tightness, pressure, general discomfort, or could be more intense and sharp pain. It can sometimes spread to other areas of the body and is often made worse by exertion or stress.
One cause of this is arteries in the heart narrowing, which happens due to build-ups of fatty substances around the heart. You can often stop this symptom by resting for several minutes, though you should always get a professional to look at it.
Arrhythmia
This is another word for having an irregular heartbeat. While it is not always dangerous on its own, it can be, so you should always get your heart checked if you discover it.
Types of arrhythmia include:
Skipped Heartbeats
When your heart misses a beat once in a while, this could be an indicator of heart disease. It might also appear because of changes to medications, or hormonal imbalances.
Very Fast Heartbeat
Having a heartbeat of up to 300 beats per minute can be a symptom of the heart not regulating electrical impulses as it should. It can even cause a stroke if left unresolved.
Uneven Heartbeat
Sometimes, some parts of your heart can beat out of time with the others. For example, the lower sections might beat faster than the upper ones. If you find your heartbeat sounds like this, seek immediate emergency attention.
Cold or Weak Extremities
This can be a sign of your heart not pumping blood to your extremities and instead hoarding it for your internal organs. Your legs or arms might not get the blood and energy they need to keep functioning as they should.
Erectile Dysfunction
If you are having trouble keeping an erection, it can sometimes be a sign your blood pressure is not high enough. This is because, much like with cold extremities, your body is pulling blood back to the torso as the heart cannot pump well enough.
It may also be due to issues with your blood vessels and an inability for them to dilate as they did before. You can discuss this issue with your doctor, but make sure they understand you have concerns about your heart and not only your genitals.
Fatigue
When your body has issues pumping blood around, it will start to be starved of oxygen.
When that happens, you will feel fatigued because your body cannot energize itself without the oxygen it once had.
Foot Swelling
If your heart is not pumping well enough, blood might start to pool in your lower extremities. When this happens, your feet will start to swell.
There may be other reasons for this swelling, so make sure to discuss the situation with your doctor before jumping to conclusions.
New Pain
Many different kinds of pain could suggest a form of heart problem. These might include:
- Back pain
- Heart pain
- Jaw pain
- Neck pain
- Stomach pain
- Throat pain
While erectile dysfunction is a male issue, women are much more likely to feel pains like these across their bodies. These symptoms are less well-known, so ensure you understand they are as serious as the others.
If these pains start to spread to other areas, you can assume they are serious and not minor problems. So, get them checked as soon as they become noticeable.
Lightheadedness
Along with fatigue, the lack of oxygen traveling around your body can start to give you trouble with your balance center. This might cause you to feel lightheaded.
This issue also has secondary dangers, as if you are in charge of a heavy machine such as a motor vehicle, it could cause further accidents. If you work in such situations, ensure you find out what the cause is early so you can resolve the problem.
Pain in the Left Shoulder
The nerves in your heart connect to the same areas as the nerves in your left shoulder. Because of this, when someone has intense and sudden left shoulder pain, there is every chance they have heart problems.
Do not delay, as this situation requires emergency medical attention.
Shortness of Breath
Should your lungs feel heavy and you notice your breathing more than ever, this is a potential sign you are not getting enough oxygen in your system. This might happen fast, or build up over time until you notice.
While a common symptom of an unhealthy heart, it might also be a sign of many other issues, such as anxiety or an allergy, so make sure you get it tested.
Sleep Apnea
A lack of blood supply to the brain can cause people who are sleeping not to breathe in their usual way. Thus, a person’s heart health might impact a person’s ability to take in oxygen overnight.
This might coincide with snoring, but not always, so be aware of it even if you are not a snorer.
Get Your Unhealthy Heart Healthy Again
An unhealthy heart is a danger to your own life, and not only is that bad for you but also for your whole family. Because heart disease is such a serious situation, you should check you have the right healthcare to cover it. This way, you can ensure you have coverage for anything that might happen to you.
We can talk you through your options and help you understand what we can provide for your healthcare plan. All you need to do is give us a call and learn more about what it means to switch today.