Be On the Lookout for These 10 Sneaky Signs of Heart Disease

In the movies and on TV, a heart attack is often portrayed as sudden and extremely painful, resulting in the character clutching their chest as they fall to the ground.

However, heart problems don't always present this way in real life. Heart disease symptoms typically come on gradually, while the signs of a heart attack may be mistaken for other conditions, like anxiety, stress or even heartburn.

For this reason, it helps to be aware of these 10 sneaky signs of heart disease. This way, you'll know to see a doctor in time to prevent your condition from worsening.

Whether or not you already have heart disease, it's also important to know the uncommon early signs of a heart attack. When identified early, these can be treated in time to prevent further damage to your heart.

Read on to learn about these 10 sneaky signs of heart disease and heart attacks.

What Are Heart Disease Symptoms?

These are the warning signs that a person has heart disease. Heart disease is the umbrella term for many conditions and symptoms of the heart.

Some examples of heart disease are:

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Coronary heart disease
• Arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythms
• Valve disease
• Angina
• Unstable angina

What Are the 10 Sneaky Signs of Heart Disease?

Heart problems have many symptoms in common, and many of them are subtle. Here are 10 of them to watch out for:

1. Feeling Tired for No Reason

   If you're suddenly feeling fatigued even though you haven't changed your routines or indulged in strenuous activities, it could signal a problem with your heart. Unexplainable fatigue is a symptom of coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart problem in the U.S..

Coronary heart disease develops when a fatty substance made up of cholesterol deposits called atheroma forms on the walls of the arteries. Over time, the plaque buildup narrows the arteries, slowing down or blocking the flow of blood to the heart.

Feeling tired for no reason may also point to heart failure. This is a chronic condition in which the heart isn't pumping enough blood to meet the body's needs.

2. An Irregular Heartbeat

   Arrhythmia refers to any problem with the heartbeat, whether it's too fast, too slow or otherwise has an irregular rhythm. When you have an arrhythmia, it might feel like there's a fluttering in your chest or as if your heart has skipped a beat.

Some people don't know they have arrhythmia and only find out during a physical examination. Often, arrhythmia is harmless: It can be due to too much coffee, strenuous activity and anxiety. However, in some cases, it can indicate heart problems. If you experience an irregular heartbeat, it's best to book an appointment with your doctor so they can determine a cause and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.

3. Leg or Hip Pain

   A painful leg or hip might not be because of "being out of shape" or getting older. Instead, pain in the leg or hip during walking that stops when you stand still or rest may be a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Other symptoms of PAD include tingling or numbness in the legs or feet, cold legs or feet and loss of hair on the legs.

4. Difficulty Breathing

   Doing moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercises are likely to make you feel short of breath for a little while. However, if you're gasping for air after walking up a single flight of stairs or just walking to the corner, then you might have a heart condition.

Conditions like heart failure, heart attack and coronary disease all cause breathlessness. The best thing to do when experiencing difficulty breathing while doing light activities or resting is to contact your doctor immediately. Keep in mind, however, that most heart problems are treatable, and the faster you get treated, the likelihood of a better outcome increases.

5. Swollen feet or ankles

   One of the easily-missed heart disease symptoms is edema, or swelling, of the feet and ankles. As previously discussed, heart failure is when the heart isn't pumping enough blood.

In heart failure, the muscles of the heart are too weak to pump blood with enough force out through the arteries and back through the veins. As a result, blood backs up into the legs and ankles, causing swelling. People with heart failure may also experience swelling in the abdomen and fluid buildup in their lungs.

6. Nausea

   Vomiting, feeling nauseous and having no appetite can be heart attack symptoms. These signs are more common in women than in men. In some cases, they may be caused by heart failure. When blood flow to the digestive system decreases, you may feel uncomfortably full, even if you haven't eaten.

7. Indigestion or Heartburn

   The symptoms of heartburn and heart attack overlap, making them hard to tell apart. So what are heart disease symptoms that could indicate either? The most common one is a burning pain in the chest..

To be safe, if you feel a sudden, burning sensation in your chest and you're not sure if it's indigestion, have someone take you to the emergency room or call 911. If the pain goes away after a few hours, you may want to schedule a visit with your doctor to rule out possible heart problems.

8. Feeling Lightheaded

   Many conditions are associated with feeling woozy. These include atrial fibrillation and heart attack. However, lightheadedness can have many other causes, such as anxiety, motion sickness and low blood pressure. It may also be a side effect of a medication you're taking.

If you're feeling lightheaded and also experiencing other symptoms of heart disease, talk to your doctor. They will be able to shed light on the root cause by ordering tests and performing a physical examination.

9. Difficulty Sleeping

   Research has shown a link between insomnia and heart disease. Lack of quality sleep can increase your risk of developing a heart condition. At the same time, heart failure may make it difficult for you to fall and stay asleep.

10. Chest Pain

    This is the most common of heart attack symptoms. However, contrary to popular belief, it is not always a sharp, sudden pain.

Heart attack pain is often described as a feeling of tightness, squeezing or pressure on the chest. Some heart attack survivors have also described the feeling as a burning or pinching sensation.

Chest pain due to a heart attack typically occurs in the middle or left side of the chest, and it either lasts for a few minutes or comes and goes. If you experience this symptom, don't wait and see if it goes away on its own. Call 911 or emergency medical assistance immediately. Fast treatment helps reduce the amount of damage to your heart.

What to Do If You Experience the 10 Sneaky Signs of Heart Disease

The best course of action is always to seek medical help as soon as you can. Only a health care professional can give you a proper diagnosis and recommend the right treatment. If you are on medication for your heart, continue taking it regularly.

Other preventative measures, such as healthy lifestyle changes and nutritional choices, may help boost heart health. Also, if you have already been diagnosed with heart disease, stick to your treatment plan and see your cardiologist regularly to keep your heart healthy.

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Sources:

• https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/coronary_ad.htm
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-arrhythmia/symptoms-causes/syc-20350668
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/
• https://heart-failure.net/symptoms/appetite-loss-nausea
• https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/angina-chest-pain/heartburn-or-heart-attack
• https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/treatment-of-a-heart-attack
• https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/injury/heart-attack-first-aid
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2938862/