Would you know if you were having a heart attack?
Conventional wisdom says that chest pain, sweating and shortness of breath are the classic signs of a heart attack.
And while this is true, there are other signs that aren’t talked about nearly as often, if at all.
They can be subtle, and they can differ from person to person.
When cardiologists were asked to share some weird symptoms that people often brush off, but that could be signs of a serious heart problem, here’s what they came up with…
9 symptoms you should never ignore
1. A sinking feeling in your chest. People describe this in many different ways — like a goldfish flipping around in their chest, for example, or that sinking feeling you get in an elevator when it starts to descend quickly.
Don’t brush off any new or strange chest sensations. Bring them to your doctor, who will do an EKG and possibly send you home with a heart monitor. You could have a heart rhythm disorder like atrial fibrillation.
Keeping a log of what’s happening when you experience this sensation is also a good idea.
2. Whooshing in the ear. “Sometimes there are peripheral symptoms that one wouldn’t think are cardiovascular at all that could be a manifestation of cardiovascular disease,” says cardiologist Dr. Heather Gornick, who’s also a professor in the school of medicine at Case Western Reserve University.
“And the one I see the most is patients who have a pulsating sound in the ear,” often in tune with their heartbeat.
Known as pulsatile tinnitus, it can signal a narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood between heart and brain, as well as with arterial blockages, tears and aneurysms.
3. Pain or fatigue in the legs while walking. This could be a manifestation of peripheral artery disease (PAD), where the arteries carrying blood to the legs get clogged. It’s associated with a greater risk of heart attack, stroke and early death.
If this feeling persists for a week or two, see your doctor. They’ll do a physical exam and an ankle-brachial index test, which measures blood pressure in your legs and arms.
PAD is a serious condition that, left unaddressed, can lead to amputation.
4. Changes in your feet or legs. Peripheral edema (swollen feet, legs and ankles) can be a sign of congestive heart failure. If the swelling is in both feet rather than just one, and it comes back for a few days in a row, it’s time to see your doctor.
Also keep an eye out for abrupt color changes. Blood clots can turn your legs purple or, in some cases, totally pale and white. Blood clots are a medical emergency.
5. Jaw or neck pain with exertion. If it’s triggered by exertion and relieved by rest, get it checked out. Your doctor will do a stress test to see if you’re at heightened risk of a heart attack or stroke.
6. Indigestion and nausea. That chest discomfort and belching may not be the tacos you ate for dinner. It could signal ischemic heart disease. If it doesn’t go away, call your doctor.
Pay attention to nausea, too, especially if you’re also feeling jaw or back pain, lightheadedness or unusual fatigue.
7. Carpal tunnel discomfort paired with shortness of breath. Wrist pain after typing, pins and needles, or hand weakness when accompanied by shortness of breath, may be symptoms of cardiac amyloidosis, when proteins deposit in the heart and disrupt function. Nowadays, there are effective treatments for this condition.
8. Sudden stabbing chest pain. This could be caused by aortic dissection, a tear in one of the body’s major arteries. If not caught in time, half of those who experience this will die. This is a medical emergency that will probably require open-heart surgery.
9. A hard time with regular daily activities. Valvular disease indicates the heart’s valves are not working like they should be. That can make someone feel tired and not up to tasks they’d normally had no problem with. They may require frequent rest breaks.
It’s important to alert your doctor if you notice feeling this way when doing regular activities, like housework, grocery shopping, driving or taking a walk.
Sources:
9 Weird Symptoms Cardiologists Say You Should Never Ignore — Time