A cardiologist reveals the 12 potential symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
- A cardiologist has listed 12 potential warning signs of heart disease.
- Among them, he evokes breathing difficulties, sleep apnea or even palpitations.
- Cardiac or cardiovascular diseases include pathologies that affect the heart and all the blood vessels.
Heart disease is one of leading causes of death worldwide. However, beware: many of their symptoms can go unnoticed according to Professor Elijah Behr, consultant cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic and St George’s Hospital in London, interviewed by the british press.
The doctor details the signs to recognize.
Poor circulation, difficulty breathing: signs of a heart condition?
The first warning signs of cardiovascular disease are breathing difficulties such as shortness of breath or gasping.
“Symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath on exertion, but also shortness of breath at rest for some people who can be very affected”, confirms the professor. Heart failure is the inability of the heart muscle to normally propel blood through the body, recalls theHealth Insurance.
Leg swelling or poor blood circulation are other worrying indicators: “this may indicate a clot in the leg that is blocking the return of blood to the heart”, explains the expert.
Heart palpitations are also likely to be a sign of heart disease. Indeed, they can sometimes cause a feeling of throbbing, the heart rhythm being disturbed in one way or another. “It can be a racing or irregular heartbeat, or both”, explains Dr. Elijah Behr.
Dizziness and dizziness are also among the symptoms of a heart disorder. They occur when the heart does not pump enough blood to the brain. These disorders can be a sign of heart failure, an abnormal heart rhythm, or be a lesser-known sign of a heart attack.
Erection problem, gum disease: little-known symptoms of heart disease
Also to watch out for: a change in skin color. “Poor blood circulation is likely to cause parts of the skin to turn blue or gray, especially in the fingers and toes. This may indicate a narrowing or blockage of blood vessels”, explains the cardiologist.
Erection problems, sometimes trivial and attributed to psychological factors, should also attract attention. They are sometimes the result of insufficient blood supply, and reveal problems in the arteries, particularly located in this part of the anatomy.
Among other symptoms, the expert notes intense fatigue: “heart failure can lead to excessive fatigue, as the organ no longer pumps enough blood around the body.”
A number of studies have further established a link between gum disease and heart disease. Indeed, some experts believe that bacteria present in the mouth are capable of entering the bloodstream and causing inflammation of the heart. Furthermore, the research showed that gum disease can also increase the risk of stroke.
Dark spots under the nails are also something to watch out for. Indeed, small points of blood stuck under the nails can be the sign of a endocarditisan infection of the lining of the heart valves, most often caused by bacteria that enter the blood and travel to the heart.
Other illnesses can be a sign of a heart condition
As diabetes multiplies by two the risk of cerebrovascular accident (CVA), certain signs of this disease are to be taken into account to prevent a heart problem. This is particularly the case for dark spots in areas where the skin folds, such as the neck, armpits and groin. called acanthosis nigricansthey are a sign that the body is struggling to produce energy. insulinthe hormone that regulates blood sugar.
Studies also showed that being able to grip something well, called grip strength, indicates that you have a lower risk of heart disease.
Finally, theSleep Apnea, disturbance of nocturnal ventilation due to the abnormally frequent occurrence of respiratory pauses, can put people at risk of high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) and heart failure, says Professor Elijah Behr.
