Just because you still aren’t diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, doesn’t mean you’re completely safe from ever having a heart condition, which is why it’s better to avoid the risks through early detection.
Reports show that the rate of people who died from heart disease is bigger compared to road accidents. According to WHO (World Health Organization), 17.3 million people died from cardiovascular diseases in 2008. Learn to detect early signs of heart disease and keep yourself healthy.
Here are seven early signs that can help you detect signs of heart disease:
Flu-like Symptoms
Flu is a communicable disease that can be cured by resting, taking lots of water, and medications like vitamins and/ or vaccines. However, symptoms of flu can signal that you’re at risk of a heart attack.
Feeling tired or fatigued is one of the common symptoms of flu. If accompanied by clammy, sweaty skin—even without high temperature—along with a feeling of light-headedness and weakness, it may not be just a simple illness.
The symptoms mentioned are possible signs of heart disease, especially heart attack, which can kill you in just a few seconds. Another round of typical symptoms associated with flu include a feeling of heaviness or pressure in the chest, and persistent wheezing or chronic coughing.
Indigestion/ Heartburn
Heartburn (also known as acid indigestion, cardialgia, or pyrosis) is associated with gastric reflux, which is also a major symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD leaves a burning sensation in the chest, specifically behind the breastbone or the upper central abdomen.
There are people who also experience ache similar to cramps in the upper belly. The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw, that’s why you feel the effects of heartburn. Similar symptoms also happen to those who’ve suffered a heart attack.
Reports show that women and adults over the age of 60 are more likely to experience this type of symptoms. Most people though, don’t recognise that heartburn could be a sign that they might be having cardiac problems.
Palpitation and Rapid Pulse Rate
Have you experienced a pounding or rapid beating in your chest—a sensation that may extend to your neck and throat? This symptom is known as ventricular tachycardia, which describes fast and irregular pulse and heart rate. Related symptoms include dizziness and weakness. You might think that you just had a bit too much coffee, but it can also be a positive sign for heart disease.
Sweating
Breaking a sweat, which is also related to flu-like symptoms, can be a symptom for heart illness. There are instances wherein you might excessively sweat regardless of how low the temperature is. If you experience extreme sweating along with chronic coughing or wheezing, you should definitely consult your doctor and have your heart checked.
Pain in the Ear, Jaw, Neck, or Shoulders
Do you experience a sharp pain in the arm and chest, extending to the shoulder part or between the shoulder blades? It may also feel like the pain is running along the jaw and up by the ear. More common to women, these symptoms can be a possible sign of a heart attack.
Many people mistake these warning signs as just typical muscle pains, or gum or tooth problems if they feel pain along the jaw. This condition is actually called “radiating” pain, which happens because of nerve endings sending pain signals to the upper body.
Leg Swelling
Fluid retention in the body can result to edema. This occurs when the heart muscle isn’t functioning properly and the waste products inside the body aren’t carried away by the blood from the tissues, which could result in a swelling sensation in the ankles, feet, and legs.
Sexual Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is common in men with coronary artery disease. Men will have trouble in keeping erections or sometimes achieving orgasms when engaging in sexual activities.
If you’ve felt most of the health indications mentioned above, then what you need to do next is to go to a physician for a checkup. The symptoms of heart attack or any other heart disease should not be ignored or taken for granted because consequences could be fatal.
Also, don’t underestimate the importance of getting a medical insurance as early as you can, especially if coronary heart disease runs in your family. Get financial compensation in case of unexpected events. Adequate medical insurance coverage also protects your family and let you sleep better at night.