Heart disease is nowadays the number one killer in the world. According to the WHO, 17.3 million people died from cardiovascular diseases in 2008 alone, and by 2030, more than 23 million people will die annually from CVDs. In this article, we’ve decided to present you 10 heart disease symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore!
Why is heart disease so deadly?
Many people would say it’s because of the bad diet, unhealthy lifestyle, environmental pollution and so on. But one reason that heart disease becomes the number one killer is that many people are slow to seek help when symptoms arise. At worst, many even don’t know the symptoms. Most of the CVD symptoms are not always intense or obvious, and they vary between individuals.
It can be really hard to determine the symptoms of a heart problem, so make sure you pay attention to the following 10 heart disease symptoms and look for the doctor’s help if they recur or don’t go away after several hours or a few days:
1. Dizziness and shortness of breath
Breathlessness, when you are not suffering from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can indicate a heart attack. Dizziness can be another symptom.
2. Sickness
Stomach pain, indigestion, vomiting or feeling sick are also some of the 10 heart disease symptoms that can happen during heart attack.
3. Pressure
A feeling of discomfort in the chest area, like something is pressing on your chest or tightening around, can also be a symptom of a heart problem.
4. Chest Pain
Not all chest pain has to do with the heart, so pay careful attention as to where exactly the pain is coming from. Jean C. McSweeney, PhD, RN, associate dean for research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing in Little Rock, told Web MD that heart-related chest pain is often centered under the breastbone, a little to the left of the center. The pain can feel like something heavy, for example an elephant is sitting on your chest. It can sometimes be an uncomfortable feeling or fullness, pressure or squeezing.
5. Unusual Pain Elsewhere
Another one of the 10 heart disease symptoms is this one. Heart disease-related pain is not confined to the chest. It can radiate to other parts of the body as well. According to Amy Thompson, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, the pain can start on the left or right side of the chest and then reach up to the neck and jaw. A 2012 U.S. study actually found that a significant number of heart attack patients were admitted to hospitals without chest pain or discomfort.
6. Anxiety
Anxiety or a feeling of foreboding about your health can be accompanied by light-headedness or dizziness. It can be your body’s way of telling you that your heart has a problem.
7. Looking Ill
People who are about to suffer a heart attack can look really ill. Their blood pressure drops so low, so they may look ashen or grey and observably unwell.
8. Palpitations
Rapid, irregular heart beat accompanied by dizziness, weakness, or breathing shortness is also one of the 10 heart disease symptoms. It can be a sign of heart problem like heart failure, heart attack or arrhythmia. The latter can also result to stroke when left untreated.
9. Tiredness or weakness
People who suffered from heart attack experienced tiredness and severe weakness leading up to the episode. Women in particular experience such symptom, according to the British Heart Foundation.
10. Sweating
The last one of the 10 heart attack disease symptoms is sweating. Patients often break out in cold sweat prior to the episode.
Don’t ignore these signs! Whenever you’re in doubt, visit your doctor and make sure you’re alright!
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