Within the United States, heart disease is one of the leading causes of fatalities claiming one in four patients. The signs of heart problems may become obvious by severe pain in the chest. However, conditions of the heart can be concerning because many people do not recognize the early signs and symptoms of heart problems and do not seek treatment unless it is too late.
Symptoms of the heart may not be explicit and therefore people should not be ignoring any potential warning signs of cardiac problems. Some of the most common warning signs which should not be ignored include the following:
- Breathlessness.
- Heartburn.
- Pain in the upper back or neck.
- Painful hiccups.
- Muscle soreness.
People who are identified as having heart conditions or suffering from high-risk factors including those over the age of 65, a family history of heart conditions, smokers, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes should be paying extra attention to any problems which could give rise to cardiac symptoms.
Risk factors for heart disease
It is essential to pay attention to any symptoms which could be indicating conditions of the heart. Including the symptoms or waiting for them to go away will not be helpful for people who are advised to contact their doctor immediately to undergo tests and get themselves diagnosed. Many people believe the symptoms are just related to heartburn or muscle soreness. People that belong to the group mentioned above should take care and understand that they are required to provide proper attention to any symptoms of the heart which could be indicating cardiac problems.
Anxiety
Anxiety can be a symptom which could be a sign of an impending heart attack. People may feel they are having a panic attack and could also experience breathlessness, chest pain, palpitations and feeling dizzy. The emergency room is the best place to visit when these symptoms are being experienced.
Discomfort in the chest
A typical symptom of a heart attack begins with chest pain. Unfortunately, just 50% of all women experiencing one may develop pain in the chest. It must also be understood that chest pain could also be a result of conditions that may not be related to the heart. Chest pain is often related to the heart but it is often prominent below the breastbone and slightly on the left side. It can give a feeling of extreme pressure on the chest or just make the individual uncomfortable with sensations of squeezing, fullness and pressure. Women may experience minor pain or a burning sensation in such cases.
Coughing
Accumulation of fluid in the lungs which can cause a persistent cough is a common symptom of heart failure. People who have a chronic cough which is worsening or making it difficult for them to breathe should be contacting their doctor without delays. Similar actions must also be taken if a cough is producing bloody phlegm.
Fatigue
Different medical conditions have been mentioned for the symptom of fatigue and women, in particular, may experience fatigue of the unusual kind in the days prior to a heart attack. People may begin feeling tired constantly when their heart is failing. Fatigue which affects normal functioning is a symptom which would receive attention from a doctor.
Lack of appetite and nausea
A heart attack can also cause people to begin experiencing nausea, vomiting, abdominal swelling and indigestion. These symptoms are caused by a weakened heart which may have blocked arteries. The problem is common in women and worsens when they are involved in any activity only improves after resting. People who are experiencing these problems should be having a consultation with their doctor.
Pain in the body
People cannot be under the impression they will only have chest pain in the event of a heart attack because they could also suffer from pain in other parts of the body. The pain which begins in the chest expands to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or the abdomen. It is common for men to experience pain in the left arm when affected by a heart attack while women can experience the pain in either arm and even between the shoulder blades. The pain can be intermittent and range from mild to severe. Here again, the emergency room of the hospital will be the best place to visit because people could be experiencing a heart attack.
Irregular pulse which is rapid
Skipped heartbeats which happen occasionally should not be a concern but if the heartbeat is irregular it would be a symptom of an impending heart attack or even heart failure. The irregular pulse will also be accompanied by dizziness, weakness, and breathlessness. Medical attention should be sought instantly because arrhythmias of such kinds can lead to strokes, heart failure and even fatalities without proper medical intervention.
Breathlessness
Fluid can leak into the lungs during a heart attack or heart failure and can be the leading cause of breathlessness. People may begin feeling breathless even when they are resting. While the chances of breathlessness being the result of chronic conditions such as COPD are also existent they could also be a warning sign of a heart attack.
Sweating
Sweating without reasons is one of the most common symptoms of a heart attack. People may not be suffering from a fever or even exerting themselves in hot environments but may begin to sweat profusely and could also have breathlessness and chest pain which could be a symptom of a heart attack.
Weakness
An impending heart attack also causes people to experience weakness because the heart is unable to pump the blood needed by the body. Therefore weakness should not be considered as a minor problem and doctors should be consulted for a diagnosis.
Swelling
The heart does not pump blood effectively when it is weakened and this problem can lead to fluid retention which can result in swelling of the lower parts of the body. Heart failure can also be the cause of unexplained weight gain and loss of appetite.
People who are experiencing any of the symptoms spoken about in this discussion must ensure they never ignore them because they could be dealing with a problem which requires medical attention. Most importantly they could be suffering from the symptoms of the heart which could lead to serious problems unless they are attended to immediately.