Heart disease or heart problems cover various conditions affecting the heart. According to the Centre for Disease Control, heart diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the country. It is possible to aim for a more positive outcome if there is adequate awareness about the early warning signs of heart problems. This knowledge empowers everyone to seek timely healthcare assistance and helps avoid undergoing surgical procedures like angioplasty and TAVR for aortic regurgitation.

Nausea
Indigestion, nausea, and heartburn are all signs of digestive distress. But symptoms like indigestion and nausea also indicate a heart attack. It is especially concerning if these symptoms are present with chest pain.

Shortness of breath
If one experiences shortness of breath while carrying out activities that one could earlier do without any problems, one might want to pay extra attention to one’s health. Difficulty in breathing when at rest is a warning signal of heart disease. It might lead to a battery of tests to help rule out the possibility of cardiac arrest or the need for angioplasty or TAVR procedure for rectifying aortic regurgitation.

Swollen ankles
A noticeable early warning sign of possible heart problems is swollen feet or ankles. If one experiences swelling in their legs or feet consistently at the end of the day, it is worth bringing up during one’s next visit to the healthcare provider. There might be a requirement for additional tests to determine the root cause of the swelling. It might have something to do with increased bad cholesterol levels in the blood or even be related to heart blockages.

Leg pain
Unexplained cramping or leg pain can indicate Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). It is a heart problem where the body’s extremities have limited blood supply due to constricted blood vessels. In most people, the pain might be triggered when the person is active and might subside when resting.

Jaw pain
In a few patients, heart problems might manifest in tightness in the jaw or the left arm. Others experience it as referred pain, characterized by back pain caused by stimulation of the auxiliary nerve’s branches. It might be concerning if someone experiences pain in their back, jaw, or left arm, especially if it comes along with sweating, disorientation, and feeling unwell.

Irregular heartbeat
The heart rate is expected to increase when one participates in physical activity. It is the body’s way of meeting the increased oxygen demand. It is an acceptable state. However, if the heart rate speeds up at rest, it can be a cause for concern. It can be a sign of atrial fibrillation and increase the risk of stroke and the formation of blood clots. Similarly, irregular heartbeat, skipped beats, or irregular heart rhythms are all concerning and need to be checked by a healthcare professional.

Unexplained fatigue
The exhaustion catching up at the end of a long workday is normal. However, if doing the bare minimum results in fatigue, it is a warning bell and calls for a doctor’s attention. An inadequate amount of oxygen in the blood also means the rest of the body is not being provided with the required amount of oxygen. If preliminary tests are inconclusive, doctors might advise getting an angiography done to get a better picture of the heart and determine if there are any issues with it.