Heart woes
Thanks to more education about healthy eating and advancements in treatment, fewer people die of heart disease
than in the past. That said, clogged heart arteries are still the
number-one cause of death in the United States. Although heart attack
symptoms can be a scary first sign of trouble (and keep in mind women have different symptoms
than men), sometimes the body offers up more subtle clues that
something is amiss with your ticker. The following is a list of symptoms
that might be worth a chat with your doctor. But they may also be
caused by a bunch of other things, so don't freak out. (Many of these
are also symptoms of anemia, so check out
Only your real doctor—not Dr. Google—can really tell you if these symptoms mean anything at all.
Only your real doctor—not Dr. Google—can really tell you if these symptoms mean anything at all.
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You're extremely tried
This
isn't just lack of sleep tired; it is extreme fatigue. Think of how you
feel when you get the flu, except this doesn't go away. "A lot of women
kind of blow this off assuming it's nothing and that they will feel
better, but in reality it could be a sign of your heart," says Suzanne
Steinbaum, DO, Director of Women's Heart Health at the Heart and
Vascular Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. The reason
why you feel that way: It comes down to a lack of oxygen. "The heart is
struggling and straining to deliver the oxygen to your body." That said,
plenty of people feel tired for lots of reasons. If this is your only
symptom, you can talk to your doctor, but don't conclude you have heart
trouble based on this alone.
Your feet swell
Feet
swelling can occur for a bunch of garden-variety reasons, such as
pregnancy, varicose veins (which are unsightly but not dangerous), or
when you travel and have limited ability to move around. It can also be a
sign of heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart pumps
blood inefficiently. "Swelling can also occur when the heart valve
doesn't close normally," says Michael Miller, MD, professor of
cardiovascular medicine at the University of Maryland School of
Medicine. Some medications for blood pressure and diabetes could also
cause swelling, says Dr. Miller. "Heart-related foot swelling is usually
accompanied by other symptoms that include shortness of breath and/or
fatigue," he says. If you recently developed foot swelling, see your
doctor to determine the cause and how best to treat it.
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You have extreme pain when you walk
If
your hip and leg muscles cramp when you climb, walk, or move, then feel
better when you rest, don't shrug it off as due to old age or a lack of
exercise (though those things certainly could be the culprits). It could
be a sign of peripheral arterial disease,
also known as PAD. PAD is a buildup of fatty plaque in leg arteries
that is linked to a higher risk of heart disease. If you have PAD
there's a 50% chance you also have a blockage in one of the heart
arteries, says Dr. Miller. The good news? PAD (and heart disease for
that matter) is a very treatable condition.
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You get dizzy or light-headed
Again,
this is one of those symptoms that can have many non-heart related
causes. If you have ever been to a gym, you may have seen warning signs
to stop walking, running, cycling or elliptical stepping if you feel
dizzy or light-headed. This symptom could be caused by dehydration or
because you "got up too quick," but if it occurs on a regular basis then
talk to your doctor to see if medication side effects, inner ear
problems, anemia, or, less commonly, heart issues are to blame. This
spinning state could be caused by blockages in arteries that lessen
blood pressure or by faulty valves that cannot maintain blood pressure,
says Dr. Miller.
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You get short of breath, even though you're fit
Despite
your thrice-weekly cycling classes, you get winded walking up a flight
of stairs or you're coughing a lot. What gives? It could be asthma,
anemia, an infection, or rarely a problem with the heart's valves or its
ability to pump blood. "Fluid buildup affecting the left side of the
heart can produce wheezing that simulates bronchial asthma," Dr. Miller
says. "Once the valve is fixed, fluid no longer builds up in the lungs
and the patient breathes easier." Since exercise can strengthen the
heart, get this symptom checked out so it doesn't interfere with your
ability to get a good workout.
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You're depressed
Depression
is one of the most common problems in the world, and it affects 19
million Americans each year. Depression is probably not a sign
that you have heart trouble (as if you need something else to worry
about.) But mental wellbeing is linked to physical wellbeing; many
studies suggest that people who are depressed are at greater risk of
heart trouble. "People who have multiple risk factors for heart disease
or who do have heart disease have a tendency to be depressed," says Dr.
Steinbaum. Either way you look at it, it's another reason to seek help if you are depressed.
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You get migraines
Sometimes
a headache is just a headache. But in some cases, regular migraines
suggest that something is amiss with your ticker. Migraines occur in 12%
of the general population, but that stat rises to around 40% in patients with cardiovascular disease. And while there isn't a clear-cut connection, the occurrence of migraines
with auras has been related to some heart abnormalities, so it is
possible that these attacks might have a connection to dysfunction of
the heart. One theory is that they could both are the result of autonomic nervous system imbalances.
You can hear your heart beat when you fall asleep at night
"Some patients with a loud faulty valve can even hear the sound of their valve at night when they are trying to fall asleep," Dr. Miller says. And while some patients adjust to the sound and often just change their sleeping position so as not to hear it, doesn't mean you should ignore it. If you're being lulled to sleep by the thump-thump of your heart, tell your doctor so he or she can find out why. A pounding heartbeat can also be a sign of low blood pressure, low blood sugar, anemia, medication, dehydration, and other causesGET YOUR POST JAMB PAST QUESTION @ NAIJAADVANCE
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