
Tomorrow is World Heart Day: 8 subtle signs of heart disease you might not know about
By Lisa Salmon. Published 2020-09-28
BOLD-WellbeingNot all heart disease warning signs are as obvious as severe chest pain. Two leading cardiologists outline some of the more subtle symptoms.
Most people know chest pain can be a sign of heart disease – but it isn’t necessarily the only warning sign that something might be wrong.There are many other – often more subtle – symptoms that can sometimes indicate heart disease, which, generally speaking, involves narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, angina or stroke.Two eminent consultant cardiologists – Professors Simon Redwood and Anthony Mathur – outline eight lesser-known heart disease symptoms that everyone should be aware of…
1. Fatigue
Prof Redwood, a cardiologist at London Bridge Hospital (part of HCA Healthcare UK), says: “There are many different reasons why you might feel fatigued, so heart disease shouldn’t be your first thought every time you feel a little tired. Having said that, it’s important to be mindful that a constant or chronic fatigue could signal heart disease – or even a heart attack.“This symptom is quite common in women and occurs due to the extra stress that’s put on the heart while it’s trying to pump blood around the body if an area of blood-flow is blocked. If you’ve noticed a dip in your energy or you feel very fatigued throughout the day despite a good amount of rest and little exertion, I recommend you see your GP to check for the trigger – and hopefully rule out heart disease.”2. Shortness of breath
Prof Mathur, a cardiologist at the Heart Cells Foundation, says: “Many people are surprised to learn that their heart and lungs are very closely linked. The heart pumps oxygen-poor blood from the body to the lungs for cleaning and re-oxygenating. Once the blood is re-oxygenated, the heart then pumps the blood back around the body, giving each part the oxygen it needs to function. Therefore, you can feel short of breath if your heart isn’t able to pump blood effectively.“If you’re suffering from shortness of breath and fatigue, this could be due to a condition stopping your heart from pumping blood efficiently, like heart disease. Getting disproportionately short of breath for the activity you’re doing – such as walking to the car or bringing in the shopping – could be a warning sign you shouldn’t ignore.”- Light-headedness
- Neck, jaw and back pain
- Swollen feet or ankles
- Nausea or vomiting
- Neck circumference
- Sweating
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