Your heart along with the blood vessels that feed it is one big muscular structure. So, when this structure starts to fail, you can get signs and symptoms anywhere in the body. Here are seven surprising clues that your heart needs a check:
1 . Snoring Or Sleep Apnea
If you have a habit of snoring loudly, you are at an increased risk of heart disease. Irregular or restricted breathing while sleeping (such as in snoring and sleep apnea) is linked with all types of heart diseases. Sleep apnea is linked with a high risk of heart attack too.
2 . Sexual Problems
Do you know that erectile dysfunction is often of the early warning signs to a progressive heart problem? Doctors suggest that anyone with erectile dysfunction should be evaluated for heart disease. In women, a reduced blood flow to the genital area can cause difficulty with arousal and sexual satisfaction. It happens due to thickening and narrowing of blood vessels, thereby restricting blood flow to the genital areas in men and women.
3 . Gum Problems
If you have been having painful, swollen or bleeding gums for quite some time now, it is essential to get your heart checked in addition to a dental checkup. Experts believe that poor circulation due to heart disease could be an underlying cause of periodontal disease.
4 . Swelling In Legs And Feet
If your feet swell so much that you have trouble wearing your footwear or of you notice that your ankles, wrists or fingers are puffy, it could be a sign of an underlying heart disease. This happens due to fluid retention called as edema and could be a sign of coronary artery disease or heart failure. Fluid retention occurs when the heart doesn’t pump strongly enough and blood doesn’t carry waste products away from tissues.
5 . Irregular Heartbeat
An early sign indicating that something in the cardiovascular system is not right is irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia. It may feel like your heart is skipping beats, beating too fast or pounding too hard. The most common cause of irregular heartbeat is coronary artery disease, which restricts blood flow to the heart. Heart failure can also cause irregular heartbeats since the heart gets weakened and over compensates by beating harder and faster.
6 . Breathlessness
An early sign of heart problems is shortness of breath, especially while taking stairs, walking or during exercise. Also, if you feel you have shortness of breath during night or whenever you lie down, that too could be an early indicator of a heart problem.
So, if you experience any of these symptoms, do not take them lightly. It is best to consult a doctor who will evaluate the underlying cause of these problems and also assess the functioning of your heart. Any of these signs ,particularly two or more together , should send you to the doctor for further assessment and tests. Early detection of a heart problem can help you manage it better and live a healthy and long life. Stay Healthy, Stay Happy!