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Heart disease is the leading cause of death across the globe. Data from the World Health Organization indicates that cardiovascular diseases, which are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, claim roughly 18 millions lives each year. More than 80 percent of those deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes that oftentimes can be prevented.
The right lifestyle choices, which include eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, can help people reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease. Learning to recognize warning signs of heart disease is another way individuals can reduce their risk of developing this global but often preventable threat.
• Chest pain: Chest pain is widely recognized as a sign of heart attack. However, many people experience chest pain without ever suffering a heart attack. So how can individuals distinguish chest pain suggestive of heart disease from less threatening types of pain in their chest, such as stiffness after strength training or discomfort stemming from a pulled pectoral muscle? According to the British Heart Foundation, chest pain related to heart attack is marked by feelings of heaviness, tightness or pressure in the chest. Pain or tightness in the chest that subsides after a few minutes may be indicative of angina, which the Mayo Clinic notes is a symptom of coronary artery disease caused by a reduction of blood flow to the heart.
• Stomach pain: People may not instantly associate stomach pain with heart disease, but in certain instances such discomfort might indicate a heart problem. The BHF notes that a painful or burning feeling in the stomach can be indicative of a heart problem, including heart attack.
Though it’s not easy to distinguish between heartburn, which in spite of its name is a digestive issue, and stomach pain indicative of heart attack, it’s best to avoid writing off abdominal pain as heartburn.
The Mayo Clinic notes that many heart attacks do not involve sudden, crushing chest pain, and are instead characterized by a host of warning signs, including abdominal pain. The BHF advises anyone experiencing stomach pain who are unsure of its origins to contact a health care professional immediately.
• Arm pain: Pain in the arm is another potential indicator of heart disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, arm pain that appears suddenly and is severe could be a symptom of heart attack. This pain may occur alongside feelings of pressure, fullness or squeezing in the chest. The BHF notes that a heart attack is more likely to occur if the pain is going down the arm, particularly the left arm, or into the neck.
• Swelling in the lower legs: The National Library of Medicine notes that swelling in the legs, ankles or feet is indicative of a heart problem.
Blood flow is adversely affected when the heart is not working at peak capacity, and that can contribute to what’s effectively a traffic jam involving the blood in the veins of the legs. That backup causes the buildup of fluid in the tissues.
Heart disease is a formidable and deadly foe. Learning to recognize the warning signs of heart disease might prove lifesaving.
