If something is going wrong with your heart, would you know it?
9 Warning Signs Of Heart Problems
#1 Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is a common symptom for many people who have heart problems. People must always monitor their breathing and do notice any changes incurred. For example, people often notice an increase in the breath at night while they lay flat to sleep. Blood in the body starts backing up in the blood vessels which causes shortness of breath. The fluid starts leaking into the lungs resulting in a condition of congestion. If you experience severe shortness of breath, you must rush to your nearby doctor. If the problem is mild, still you must take an advice of doctor or nurse.
#2 Chest discomfort: Angina
Most of the people suffering from heart problems have severe chest problems such as tightness, pain, etc. most people describe this chest pain as if an elephant is standing on their chest. Some people experience chest tightness or squeezing. It happens because your heart is not getting enough rich supply of oxygen. Pain can stay for several hours or may gradually go away.
#3 Racing heartbeat (tachycardia)
In this condition, a person experiences irregular heartbeats usually more than 100 beats per minute and as large as 400 beats per minute. At such a high rate, the heart stops functioning properly and is unable to pump blood with rich oxygen supply to your body. This condition can occur in either lower heart chamber or upper heart chamber.
The risk factors include heart failure, coronary artery disease, lightheadedness, panting or sudden weakness.
#4 Slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
In this condition, a person has the heart rate less than 60 beats per minute. With age, it becomes common for people to experience slow heart rate. But at the same time, this change in heartbeat patterns must be continuously monitored by your doctor as it can be a warning sign for several heart problems. Mild cases of this problem don’t show any symptoms, but in severe cases chest tightness, fatigue can occur.
#5 Lightheadedness and Dizziness
Lightheadedness and dizziness can be a sign of heart problems. It is because; the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart is restricted. It is reduced when the heart rhythm is improper, i.e., either pumping of blood is too fast or too slow. Fainting or loss of consciousness may occur and is critical condition. When standing up quickly, if you feel dizziness then it is a sign of heart failure. Narrowing of valves causes a temporary drop in heart pressure causing dizziness.
#6 Nausea, Heartburn or Indigestion
Change in appetite, nausea, indigestion and heartburn are the common symptoms of heart failure. Even after eating a little, people may get a feeling of being full or nauseous. The fluid gets build up in the intestines and interferes with digestion. If you start experiencing any changes with your appetite pattern, then you must take a piece of advice from your doctor. Heartburns are also typical signs of heart problems.
#7 Getting exhausted quickly
Apart from chest pain, a person may experience pain in other parts of the body as well. You may get tired easily by doing the merely small amount of work only. Pain starts radiating in other parts of the body. Pain can be experienced in the upper abdomen, shoulder, teeth, jaw or neck. Women with heart problems tend to have pain in lower abdomen and the lower portion of the chest.
#8 A cough that won’t quit
A person may experience a persistent or a wheezing cough which is similar to asthma. Sometimes people suffering from heart problems may cough a thick phlegm which is tinged with blood. The lymphatic congestion and accumulation in lungs due to improper supply of blood are the causes of severe coughing and wheezing that is experienced by heart patients.
#9 Snoring
New studies have shown that snoring causes thickening in the walls of carotid arteries(arteries that link heart with the brain). These arteries react to the vibrations of snoring. Hence in rare cases, excessive snoring may pose heart problems.
Symptoms of heart diseases vary widely between chest pain to palpitations. Understanding and diagnosing the problem at an early stage can prevent heart risk in future. So never ignore these subtle nine signs of heart problems.
