Heart disease is one of the most dangerous issues of the human body. The entire human body depends on the heart to function. If this organ stops working properly or at all, that is the end of life. Heart disease symptoms are not always easy to catch. It may not be obvious like you have seen in movies and tv shows. Sometimes, you may have a heart attack and not even realize it.
If you suspect problems with your heart, it is highly recommended to visit an experienced lafayette cardiovascular disease expert and get professionally diagnosed. It is never suggested to self-diagnose when it comes to serious diseases like this. Meanwhile, here are some warning signs of heart disease that you should look out for.
Warning signs of a heart disease
- Chest discomfort.
Chest pain is the most common sign of a heart problem. If you feel tightness, stiffness, or pain in your chest, you should immediately become alert. Heart attack patients say different things when they experience it. Some may say they feel a heavy weight, like an elephant, on their chest, and others may say they feel a burn or sting. The feeling lasts for a few minutes. However, remember that you can have a heart attack without feeling any pain at all.
- Coughing or wheezing.
Persistent coughing or wheezing can be a sign of heart disease. When your heart is unable to pump blood as well as it should, it backs up in the veins that go from your lungs to your heart. Fluid leaks inside your lungs, making it hard to breathe and causing coughs. You may cough pinky or bloody mucus.
- Feeling sick.
Feeling sick or nauseous is not always a sign of a heart attack, but it is certainly a possibility. If you experience chest pain and nausea simultaneously, even when you are just sitting and doing nothing, it is time to call the ambulance. If the pain is not intense, consult a doctor to find out the problem.
- Pain that spreads to the arms.
Another common heart attack symptom is when intense chest pain radiates towards the left side of the body and in your arm. Many patients report experiencing only intense arm pain during their heart attack episodes.
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet.
Swelling in the legs is another common symptom. When your heart does not work properly, the blood in the veins of your legs back up and accumulate fluid in your tissues. Patients also experience weight gain and swelling in the stomach.
