Cardiovascular Disease: Symptoms You Wouldn't Think About
Surprising symptoms
Cardiologists at the Texas A&M Health Science Center have revealed six common signs of cardiovascular disease that we tend to overlook. These often seem like minor problems and we don't even think that they can be related to serious diseases. It is worth paying attention to them, as they can help in the early detection of the disease.
Trouble in bed
Many people think that sexual disorders indicate a problem with the reproductive organs or the brain. However, sexual dysfunction often indicates arterial disease, especially in men. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by deposits and plaques in the arteries, which can also lead to cardiovascular disease. For women, the period after menopause is a risk. For many, the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases at this time.
Noisy dreams
There are few things more annoying than being unable to sleep because of someone's snoring. Loud snoring is often associated with sleep apnea, which means that breathing stops from time to time during sleep. This sleep disorder can also lead to heart failure.
Tooth problems
Few would think that gum problems could be related to heart disease, but it is. Bleeding, sore or swollen gums are a common symptom of periodontitis, a painful infection affecting the gums. On the one hand, periodontitis can be a source of bacterial endocarditis, and on the other hand, chronic inflammations in the body can contribute to the worsening of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), thus the development of coronary artery disease.
Elephant on the chest
During a heart attack, most people feel as if a huge elephant is sitting on their chest, and this tight painful feeling often radiates to the arms. However, a heart attack does not always have such dramatic symptoms as we see on the movie screen. Some people only experience pressure, aching, and discomfort in the shoulder, neck, or jaw area. For some, these feelings of discomfort are the only signs of a heart attack.
If the shoes are tight
Swelling of our feet and legs can have many reasons, no matter how surprising, but one of them is congestive heart failure. If you experience constant and worsening leg swelling, you should visit a specialist to make sure that it is not caused by heart failure.
It's hard to digest
Digestive complaints and heartburn are fairly common problems, and we rarely pay special attention to them. In some cases, however, a painful feeling in the upper abdomen can also be a sign of a heart attack. If you experience stubborn hiccups, you should also pay attention to that, it is not certain that they are just mentioning it, it may be that your heart is indicating an upcoming problem. If heartburn and hiccups are accompanied by nausea, sweating, shortness of breath or dizziness, you should consult a doctor immediately.
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