DISCLAIMER: THIS PAGE CONTAINS A GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSION ON THE ABOVE TOPIC. IT IS NOT HEALTH ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH. YOU SHOULD NEVER RELY UPON THE INFORMATION GIVEN HERE. YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES MAY WELL REQUIRE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT APPROACH. YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES IN YOUR MEDICATIONS, DIET, ACTIVITY, LIFESTYLE, ETC. WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING A LICENSED PHYSICIAN IN YOUR AREA.
Some diseases cause terrible symptoms that a person just can't ignore, even though the disease itself may not be life threatening. Unfortunately, heart disease is often just the opposite.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. In as many as 35% of people with heart disease, there may be subtle or no symptoms before they suddenly have a heart attack or die. A major thrust of lowering the death rate from heart disease is to educate the public about what type of symptoms to be alert for. Just because it doesn't hurt a lot doesn't mean it's not serious.
Blockages in the arteries of the heart may cause pain in the chest but many people suffer instead from a sensation of mild pressure, tightness, heaviness or squeezing in the chest. In some people, the sensation feels like gas or indigestion and they assume it's their stomach when in fact it is the heart acting up.
Lots of people know that symptoms from the heart can spread to the left arm but they can just as easily spread to the right arm, the neck, throat, jaw, ears, back or stomach. In some people, the symptoms occur in one of these areas only and not the chest at all.
Symptoms from the heart tend to be brought on by physical exertion or emotional stress. In many people they are the worst shortly after waking up. Sometimes eating food can cause symptoms from the heart because, after eating, the heart has to work harder to pump extra blood to the stomach.
Finding that you are getting winded or fatigued more easily with your activities may also be an indicator of heart disease, although this can be due to many other things as well. Another characteristic of heart disease is that one's breathing is worse when they lay flat. Patients with heart disease often have to sleep with their head elevated on many pillows. Some can only sleep sitting up in a chair.
Swelling of the ankles is most commonly caused by varicose veins in the legs but can also be a manifestation of heart disease. One should be especially concerned about heart disease if the swelling occurs in association with shortness of breath.
Palpitations refers to an awareness of the heart beating. This sensation may be entirely normal if it only occurs with physical exertion or emotional stress. It is also common for people to be aware of their heart beat when they lay down to go to sleep at night. Some people can actually hear their heart beating when they lay in bed with one ear pressed against the pillow and that is also normal. Palpitations should be brought to the doctor's attention especially when they are associated with other symptoms, such as dizziness or lightheadedness.
Fainting is never normal. Loss of consciousness can be due to many reasons including heart disease and should always prompt immediate medical attention.
See also Warning Signs from the American Heart Association.
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