Early Symptoms of Heart Disease to Watch Out For
Everyone needs to recognize the early symptoms of heart disease in order to be aware of it. Do not let you ignore these symptoms until eventually new heart disease is found in a condition that is quite severe and more difficult to treat.
The early symptoms of heart disease may vary from person to person. Symptoms will also depend on the type of heart disease you are experiencing. In some cases, the initial symptoms of heart disease are not even that annoying.
Even so, there are some early symptoms that can be a warning sign that your heart has a problem. By knowing these early symptoms, you can take treatment steps as early as possible, so that heart disease can be better handled.
Some of the Early Symptoms of Heart Disease
The following are some of the early symptoms of heart disease that you need to be aware of:
1. Chest pain
Chest pain or angina pectoris is the most common early symptom of coronary heart disease. Symptoms of chest pain can vary from person to person. Some people may feel like something heavy has hit their chest, while others may feel a burning chest.
Chest pain can occur when the heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen. In the early stages of heart disease, these symptoms may only arise when the body's oxygen demand is increasing, for example when exercising or experiencing emotional stress, and will disappear with rest for about 5–10 minutes.
2. You tire more easily
Feeling tired is probably normal after you have done strenuous physical activity. However, when fatigue suddenly appears for no apparent reason and is worse than usual, it could be an early symptom of heart disease.
Shortness of breath is something that is very natural if it occurs after doing strenuous activities, such as exercising. However, if shortness of breath occurs after doing light activity, this may be an early symptom of heart disease. So, do not occasionally underestimate this symptom.
4. Irregular heartbeat
Early symptoms of heart disease can also include an occasional heartbeat that feels abnormal, for example, a heartbeat feels late or a sudden slipping between 2 normal heartbeats.
This condition generally occurs due to drinking excess coffee or lack of sleep. However, you need to be vigilant if these symptoms are felt too often for no apparent reason.
5. Swelling in the instep and ankle
Swelling in the legs can also be an early symptom of heart disease. This condition occurs when the heart does not pump blood optimally, so that blood flow throughout the body and blood flow back to the heart becomes obstructed.
In the early stages of the disease, blood that is retained in the legs can cause fluid buildup that is generally evident on the backs of the feet and ankles. But over time, swelling can occur all over the body.
Some of the early symptoms of heart disease above can get worse if the heart condition also gets worse. The following are the signs:
The early symptoms of heart disease may vary from person to person. Symptoms will also depend on the type of heart disease you are experiencing. In some cases, the initial symptoms of heart disease are not even that annoying.
Even so, there are some early symptoms that can be a warning sign that your heart has a problem. By knowing these early symptoms, you can take treatment steps as early as possible, so that heart disease can be better handled.
Some of the Early Symptoms of Heart Disease
The following are some of the early symptoms of heart disease that you need to be aware of:
1. Chest pain
Chest pain or angina pectoris is the most common early symptom of coronary heart disease. Symptoms of chest pain can vary from person to person. Some people may feel like something heavy has hit their chest, while others may feel a burning chest.
Chest pain can occur when the heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen. In the early stages of heart disease, these symptoms may only arise when the body's oxygen demand is increasing, for example when exercising or experiencing emotional stress, and will disappear with rest for about 5–10 minutes.
2. You tire more easily
Feeling tired is probably normal after you have done strenuous physical activity. However, when fatigue suddenly appears for no apparent reason and is worse than usual, it could be an early symptom of heart disease.
3. Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is something that is very natural if it occurs after doing strenuous activities, such as exercising. However, if shortness of breath occurs after doing light activity, this may be an early symptom of heart disease. So, do not occasionally underestimate this symptom.
4. Irregular heartbeat
Early symptoms of heart disease can also include an occasional heartbeat that feels abnormal, for example, a heartbeat feels late or a sudden slipping between 2 normal heartbeats.
This condition generally occurs due to drinking excess coffee or lack of sleep. However, you need to be vigilant if these symptoms are felt too often for no apparent reason.
5. Swelling in the instep and ankle
Swelling in the legs can also be an early symptom of heart disease. This condition occurs when the heart does not pump blood optimally, so that blood flow throughout the body and blood flow back to the heart becomes obstructed.
In the early stages of the disease, blood that is retained in the legs can cause fluid buildup that is generally evident on the backs of the feet and ankles. But over time, swelling can occur all over the body.
Some of the early symptoms of heart disease above can get worse if the heart condition also gets worse. The following are the signs:
- Chest pain becomes more frequent and occurs even at rest
- Drastic weight gain due to swelling throughout the body ( edema anasarca )
- A persistent cough that produces white or pink mucus
- The heartbeat feels increasingly irregular, even causing fainting
