Heart problems are the leading cause of death in many countries especially United States.
In the year 2011 alone, heart disease killed more than 787,000 people in the United States.
A couple years prior, reports came up that nearly one in every four Americans was killed by heart disease.
This is why it is very important to know the signs of an unhealthy heart.
Be informed that “Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives than all forms of cancer combined,”
Some life-threatening issues and diseases caused by an unhealthy heart include the following:
Heart attacks: Blood flow (thus, oxygen) to the heart is partially completely cut off to the heart.
Heart attacks are caused by blocked arteries.
Heart failure: This condition occurs when the heart is not able to pump blood in and out the way it normally does.
Coronary heart disease: CHD happens when plaque builds up in the two coronary arteries in your heart. It kills the most people of any heart problem.
Strokes: These happen when blood flow from your heart to your brain is impaired or ceases.
So needless to say, it is very important to understand your heart and the state of its health.
There are many warning signs of an unhealthy heart that are passed off as simple inconveniences or non-serious medical issues.
While having one of these symptoms may not be a strong indicator of an unhealthy heart, having multiple symptoms—such as a persistent cough and pain in the chest—may indicate that you have heart disease or that a heart attack is impending.
If you experience a combination of any of these symptoms, it is very important you call a health professional to get the help you need.
1. ACHING IN THE SHOULDER AND CHEST:
Chest pains, especially on the left side near the heart, have long been a sign for a potential impending heart attack.
In fact the pain is caused by the death of heart muscle cells.
Tightness and strain on the heart can sometimes be so painful that the pain can make its way to the upper torso, especially the shoulder area.
This is referred to as angina, which is associated with pain directly related to the irregular and interrupted flow of blood to the heart. Sharp pain in the shoulder usually does not indicate a problem with the heart, but a slow and gradual building of pain in the shoulder area may be an indication of unhealthy heart issues.
2. SNORING AND SLEEPING PROBLEMS:
Snoring and sleep problems like insomnia and sleep apnea, a disorder where there are disruptions in your breathing while you sleep, have been directly linked to heart disease and other cardiovascular problems.
Episodes of sleep apnea, which can cause sleepers to wake up gasping for air, cause inconsistent sleep patterns that can be stressful on the heart.
In fact sleep apnea “prevents restful sleep and is associated with high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke and heart failure,” the American Heart Association said.
3. DIFFICULTY WITH SEXUAL FUNCTION:
“Erectile dysfunction—the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex—can be an early warning sign of current or future heart problems,” the Mayo Clinic reported.
Understand that ED can be caused by an improper relationship between the flow of blood from the heart to the penis, indicating possible atherosclerosis—the narrowing of arteries and a cause for heart disease.
4. IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT:
An irregular heartbeat is more formally known as “arrhythmias,” which means that your heart is not pumping blood at its normal rhythm. While you can be relatively healthy and still have an irregular heartbeat, it is also an indication for heart failure or an impending heart attack.
“High blood pressure and coronary artery disease (blockage in the pipes of the heart) are the main causes of blood vessel disorders” like an irregular heartbeat, the Heart Rhythm Society said.
Arrhythmias is caused by the interruption of the electrical system that controls the heart. There are many different types of arrhythmias, some which indicate your heart is failing. They include:
5. SORE GUMS AND JAW, MOUTH PROBLEMS:
You may be wondering, how could sore gums possibly mean there’s a problem with my heart?
It is not accurate to say that if you have a gum disease like gingivitis, then you definitely have a heart problem. But doctors have found gum diseases and heart issues are related.
“Your gums are very vascular, meaning they are full of blood vessels, and, your mouth is full of bacteria,” Dr. Thomas Boyden, Jr. said.
“If you disrupt the gum layer even a little bit, you are going to get bacteria in your bloodstream, which can go anywhere and trigger inflammation throughout the body.” Having open wounds and infected parts of your mouth allows things bad for your heart to flow directly to it, affecting the heart’s overall health.
Pain running from the heart up to around the jaw area is a common sign of a heart attack, especially in women. Jaw pain alone is not a strong symptom for a heart attack but rather an issue with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). When jaw pain is paired with chest pain or other symptoms on the list, that’s when it becomes a concern.
6. PUFFY LEGS AND FEET:
Swelling of the legs and feet can be a clear sign of heart failure.
7. SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND FATIGUE:
The American Heart Association said shortness of breath is an indicator of heart failure. The AHA described situations that indicate a shortness of breath and they include:
You have “breathlessness during activity (most commonly), at rest, or while sleeping, which may come on suddenly and wake you up.”
You need to be propped up after having difficulty breathing while laying flat.
You wake up feeling tired or restless after sleeping through the night.
Blood vessels can get backed up due to an unhealthy heart, and it starts spreading to places it shouldn’t be, like the lungs. This causes shortness of breath.
8. DIZZY/LIGHTHEADEDNESS:
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded—or even fainting—can be a sign that blood flow to the brain is restricted, which is a leading cause for strokes and heart attacks. The dizziness and fainting can also be caused by a drop in blood pressure. “Dizziness, especially when standing up too quickly, is an extremely common symptom for people with heart failure,” one site noted.
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