We all must take care of ourselves as we age, both for our children and ourselves. As we live longer, the chances of developing health problems increase. One of the parts of our bodies that can grow more fragile as we age is our hearts. But even younger people are at risk of heart problems. It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms to watch out for that could indicate possible heart problems. There is much more to it than chest pain or shortness of breath. Many symptoms could turn out to be harmless, and even many diagnosable heart problems can be successfully treated. But you should still be sure to visit your doctor if you frequently experience any of the following symptoms.
Heart Attack Symptoms
You might not know that women are more likely to experience heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain or discomfort. Although women might feel pain in their chest, there are a number of other symptoms that could indicate a heart attack. These include nausea and vomiting, sweating and shortness of breath. You could also feel discomfort or pain in your right arm or your neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdomen. Another symptom of a possible heart attack is feeling unusual fatigue. Of course, many things could make you feel tired, but unexpected weakness and fatigue that hits you out of nowhere could indicate a bigger problem.
Coronary Heart Disease Symptoms
More women than men die of coronary heart disease, sometimes called coronary artery disease. It’s important to be on the lookout for symptoms that could indicate that you have heart disease. Some of these symptoms are similar to those you could experience with a heart attack, but they may be milder or happen over a longer period. The most common symptom is angina, or discomfort in your chest. Many people mistake angina for heartburn, and you might also feel it in your jaw, neck, arms, shoulders or back. Other symptoms that could indicate heart disease include dizziness, weakness, nausea and sweating. You should also watch out for palpitations and shortness of breath.
Arrhythmia Symptoms
Arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. There are many causes of arrhythmia, including obesity and aging. You can learn about arrhythmia to find out how to reduce your risk of developing one and treat it if you do have it. You might experience palpitations, such as feeling skipped heartbeats or flip-flopping in your chest. Arrhythmia could also make you feel dizzy or light-headed and make you feel like your chest in pounding. Watch out for fainting, shortness of breath and chest discomfort too; these could all indicate an arrhythmia. Shortness of breath and weakness of fatigue could also be signs of an arrhythmia.
Many of these symptoms seem very similar. So how do you know if you have an arrhythmia or you’re having a heart attack? The best thing to do is to seek medical attention if you suspect any of these conditions. Don’t discount a heart attack because it could be something else.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I did not know these symptoms before reading this.