Vital Heart Symptoms that your should Never Ignore

Remember, not all heart problems come with clear warning signs. You’d be surprised that some heart symptoms don’t even happen in your chest, and it’s difficult to tell what’s going on. Get it checked out if you aren’t sure which is especially true if you are 60 or older, are overweight, or have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. The higher the number of risk factors you have, the more you should be concerned about anything that might be ticker-related.

Do not ignore these problems:

Chest Discomfort- It is the most common sign that your ticker is in danger. You may feel pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest if you have a blocked artery or are having a heart attack. The feeling varies in everyone with some saying it's like an elephant is sitting on them whereas some others say it's like a pinching or burning. The feeling generally lasts longer than a few minutes which may happen when you’re at rest or doing something physical. Immediately call 911 if the symptoms are more severe and do not go away after a few minutes. It’s also possible to have heart problems- even a heart attack- without chest pain, that’s especially common among women.

Pain Spreading to the Arm- Pain that radiates down the left side of the body is another classic heart attack symptom which almost always starts from the chest and moves outward.

Throat or Jaw Pain- Throat or jaw pain isn’t probably heart-related by itself which is more likely caused by a muscular issue, a cold, or a sinus problem. Call 911 and seek medical attention if you have pain or pressure in the center of your chest that spreads up into your throat or jaw as it could be a sign of a heart attack.

Dizziness or Lightheadedness- Although a lot of things can make you lose your balance or feel faint for a moment, but if you suddenly feel unsteady and you also have chest discomfort or shortness of breath- immediately seek medical attention as it could mean there has been a drop in your blood pressure because your ticker isn't able to pump the way it should.

You get Fatigued Easily- Make an appointment with your doctor right away if you suddenly feel fatigued after doing something you had no problem doing in the past -- like climbing the stairs as extreme exhaustion or unexplained weakness, sometimes for days at a time, can be a symptom of cardiovascular disease, especially for women.

Sweating- Call 911 and get to a hospital right away if you break out in a cold sweat for no obvious reason as that could signal a heart attack. If this happens along with any of these other symptoms, immediate medical attention should be sought.

An Ongoing Cough- This isn’t a sign of heart trouble in most cases but pay attention to the possibility if you have cardiovascular disease or you know you are at risk. A long-lasting cough that produces a white or pink mucus could be a sign of heart failure that happens when the ticker can't keep up with the body's demands, causing blood to leak back into the lungs.

Swollen Legs, Feet and Ankles- This could be a sign that your ticker doesn’t pump blood as efficiently as it should. Blood backs up in the veins and causes bloating when the ticker can’t pump fast enough. HF can also make it harder for the kidneys to remove extra water and sodium from the body, which can lead to bloating.

Irregular Heartbeat- When you are nervous or excited, it’s normal for your ticker to race or to add or skip a beat once in a while. Tell your doctor if you feel like your ticker is beating out of time for more than just a few seconds, or if it happens often as occasionally, it could signal a condition called atrial fibrillation that needs treatment. Ask your doctor to check it out.

Stay prepared to efficiently handle out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases by getting CPR trained at the AHA certified CPR Louisville in Kentucky. For more information, call us on 502-804-6132.