Warning Signs of Heart Disease

The World Health Organization data shows that heart disease is the leading cause of death across the globe. Cardiovascular diseases, which are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, claim roughly 18 million lives each year. More than 80% of those deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes that oftentimes can be prevented. Oftentimes it can be prevented with right lifestyle choices, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

Learning how to recognize warning signs of heart disease is another way people can reduce their risk of heart disease.

• Chestpain. 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 indicate a symptom of coronary artery disease caused by a reduction of blood flow to the heart.

• Stomach pain. The painful or burning feeling in the stomach can be indicative of a heart problem, including heart attack. Although it’s hard to distinguish between heartburn and stomach pain indicative of heart attack, it is best to avoid writing off abdominal pain as heartburn. Many heart attacks do not involve sudden, crushing chest pain, and are instead characterized by a host of warning signs, including abdominal pain. Anyone experiencing stomach pain and unsure of its origins should contact a health care professional.

• Armpain. 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. 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.

Swelling in the legs, ankles or feet is indicative of a heart problem due to heart not working at peak capacity, which contributes to the backup of the blood in leg veins. That backup causes the buildup of fluid in the tissues.

—MetroCreativeConnection