Serious Symptoms of Heart Problems
Tightness or pressure on the chest and if it lasts more than few minutes at rest or during some physical activity may be a sign of heart attack. Some people describe it as pinching or burning sensation, anyways it should not be ignored.
- Nausea, Indigestion, Heartburn, Stomach pain
It may be from stomach or esophagus but also it may be a heart attack complaint especially if it is associated with vomiting and risk factor of heart disease.
Usually heart attack is manifested by chest pain radiating to both arms or left arm. Sometimes it starts with severe arm pain without chest discomfort.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
Dizziness or lightheadedness if associated with shortness of breath or chest pain. In that case the pump does not work perfectly so the blood supply to the brain falls down and the patient feels dizzy.
When throat or jaw pain is associated with chest pain spreading to jaw or throat, we should think about ischemic heart disease (angina or heart attack).
- Extreme exhaustion or unexplained weakness or easy fatigability may be signs for heart attack.
- Sweating
Sweating without clear cut reason may be a heart problem sign, like heat attack especially when it associated with chest pain or shortness of breath.
Long standing productive cough with white or pink mucus could be a sign of heart failure. As a cardiologist I see a lot of patients with cough for weeks or months consulted by pulmonologist or internist without real benefit and actually they have heart failure or dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Legs swelling, feet or ankles
When the heart could not pump perfectly, blood will pool in the veins and cause bloating in the lower extremities.
- Arrhythmia, irregular pulse
It may be benign phenomenon to get some extra systolic beat on some situations like nervousness, excitement, drink too much caffeine or lack of sleep. Sometimes the irregularity becomes bothering due to atrial fibrillation or another serious arrhythmia.
Know more about ischemic heart disease