Heart disease: Signs of heart problems

Heart disease: Signs of heart problems (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Heart attacks and cardiac arrests can take away loved ones in an instant. The best way is to prevent such unfortunate and tragic outcomes is to keep a constant check on heart health.

Heart disease must be detected well in advance, before it can cause damage. One way to do this is to lower cholesterol and reduce unnecessary fats in the body. But heart diseases also affect people who are 'slim' or who have no history of heart problems in the family. Just like any other disease and sickness, there are ways to judge if you will suffer a heart attack and there are signs that you can watch out for in others around you. These are the top 10 signs of heart problems.

Sign of heart problems #1: Tiredness and weakness

Everyone feels tired at the end of the day, but if you are literally dead exhausted then you should check with your physician, he will perform other tests to help you pin point the problem. If this kind of fatigue persists, it could be leading to the final day.

Another way to spot heart problems is weakness. If you are weak to the bone where you can barely get out of bed then there might be a chance that you may suffer a heart problem.

Sign of heart problems #2: Discomfort in the chest

This is actually the main symptom or sign to detect heart problem. Women are more likely to experience chest pain followed by a heart attack. Chest discomfort is associated with clogged or narrow arteries which prevents the blood to flow to other parts of the body. This lack of supply of blood can cause heart problems. Blocked arteries also cause numbness and weakness in the body.

Sign of heart problems #3: Sweating

What makes you sweat? Summer, hot bodies, workouts and intense activities creates sweat patches. But if you start to sweat if you are not doing anything, like sitting on the couch then you should be concerned. Sweating is generally accompanied by discomfort, numbness and pain in other parts of the body.

Sign of heart problems #4: Dizziness

Dizziness is associated with ear infection, low blood pressure or motion sickness. But if you feel dizzy or light headedness then it could be a sign of heart problem. Dizziness and heart problems are linked when the pulse is irregular or rapid or slow. This erratic pulse induces dizziness.

Sign of heart problems #5: Nausea

Nausea is the biggest symptom of food poisoning. But if you experience some of the other symptoms of heart problem and nausea you may want to rush to the hospital. People tend to throw up before they suffer a heart attack.

Your stomach too goes for a toss when your abdomen swells during this period. The swelling of the stomach makes to lose your appetite too. But more or swelling later.

Sign of heart problems #6: Anxiety

It is believed that people who survived a heart attack have experienced tension or a feeling that you are going to die. But it could well be linked to psychological anxiety and stress.

Sign of heart problems #7: Body pain

Earlier we had mentioned about chest pain, this pain can travel to other parts of the body. Generally, men experience pain in the left arm while women can experience pain in both the arms. The pain can be experienced at the shoulders, jaw, elbow, back or neck; this pain tends to go and come. Body pain is due to clogged and blocked arteries.

Sign of heart problems #8: Irregular pulse

When you experience other heart disease symptoms along with erratic pulse you may want to get your self tested immediately to avoid fatal consequences. Irregular heart beat is mainly due to thickening of heart muscles or due to valvular heart disease. Valvular heart disease may be caused by narrowing to the valves, leaking or if the valve doesn't close properly.

Sign of heart problems #9: Shortness of breath

There are several reasons why you could experience shortness of breath, in terms of the heart:

- Thickening of blood vessels is one of the major causes of shortness of breath. This causes lack of supply of blood to the body.

- Irregular heart beat

- Heart defects

- Thickening of heart muscles

- Heart infection

- Valvular heart disease

Sign of heart problems #10: Swelling

Swelling is caused when fluid accumulates in the body which is a sign of heart problems. Swelling is generally experienced in the legs, ankle and stomach. Swelling is a sign of heart defects or thickening of the heart muscles; it is also attributed to valvular heart disease.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Heart-disease-Signs-of-heart-problems/articleshow/18252943.cms