Heart disease: warning signs

---

Extract from the article: What are the warning signs of heart disease? Heart attack, heart failure, palpitations, angina. Whether they occur in the heart, lungs or even legs, these symptoms should not be taken lightly.

---

What are the warning signs of heart disease? Heart attack, heart failure, palpitations, angina. Whether they occur in the heart, lungs or even legs, these symptoms should not be taken lightly.

The earlier a heart condition is detected, the better the chance of timely treatment. The first symptoms should never be taken lightly, as they often have very serious consequences.

Unexplained weakness : low cardiac output may be the cause

Why can fatigue be a sign of a heart condition? General fatigue may be caused by low cardiac output, which in turn may be related to angina or a blocked coronary artery. Angina pectoris is a symptom of narrowing of the arteries of the heart, resulting in a decrease in the blood supply necessary for proper heart function. If the fatigue is associated with shortness of breath, weight gain and oedema in the lower limbs, it may be heart failure. A consultation with a cardiologist will allow a diagnosis to be made.

Chest pain: a typical symptom in men

In men, chest pain is a typical sign of angina pectoris, a symptom of narrowing of the arteries of the heart, which causes a reduction in the blood supply to the heart. The pain is felt as a tightening sensation, like a vice that grips the chest, goes up to the jaws and into the left arm. Sudden chest pain is an emergency and requires hospitalisation. Immediate and adequate treatment is required.

Caution: While this symptom is characteristic of men around the age of 50 or 60, the sign of angina pectoris is much more difficult to recognise in women. In women, it is more likely to be chest discomfort, nausea, back pain, stomach pain or tiredness and discomfort. In this case, a cardiologist should be consulted.

Palpitations: watch out for atrial fibrillation

Palpitations are a sensation of the heart racing or beating too hard, too fast or irregularly. In the vast majority of cases, these palpitations are a manifestation of anxiety. If the palpitations last for several minutes or even hours, it is best to have a heart check. This will reveal whether the palpitations are a symptom of atrial fibrillation, a disorganised contraction of the heart's atria. An anticoagulant treatment must then be put in place to prevent the risk of stroke, which increases with this pathology.

Palpitations can also be a warning sign of a pulmonary embolism if they are associated with difficulty in breathing, the presence of a painful spot in the chest and if there is a triggering factor such as a phlebitis in the lower limbs.

Shortness of breath: a sign of heart failure

Shortness of breath, if associated with weight gain, oedema in the lower limbs and fatigue, is a sign of heart failure. Heart failure is a disease of the heart that occurs when the heart is no longer able to supply enough blood to meet the body's needs. Symptoms occur first during exercise and then at rest as the condition worsens. Shortness of breath can also indicate angina or a blocked coronary artery. In this case, the lungs have less blood flow, which makes it difficult to breathe. Do not hesitate to consult a doctor, especially a cardiologist.

Syncope: beware of heart attack

Syncope is a sudden loss of consciousness. The causes of syncope can be either neurological or cardiac. And cardiac causes are potentially severe, since syncope can reveal a myocardial infarction. There are also other cardiac causes: syncope can be due to severe coronary disease, a cardiac conduction disorder or a ventricular rhythm disorder. A cardiac conduction disorder, which is a problem with the transmission of nerve impulses in the heart, will require appropriate management. A ventricular rhythm disorder, on the other hand, is equivalent to a disorganisation of the activity of the heart's ventricles and will require, at worst, the removal of the cardiac conduction pathways, i.e. the cardiac tissues that conduct the nerve impulses within the heart.

Oedema: a possible heart cause

Oedema is swelling due to an unusual accumulation of fluid in a tissue of the human body. Edema in the lower limbs, i.e. the feet or legs, can be linked to heart failure if it is associated with shortness of breath, weight gain and unexplained fatigue. Edema can also be a sign of a venous problem, a kidney disorder or a liver disorder. Sometimes oedema can be iatrogenic, i.e. caused by certain medications. In case of oedema, consult the doctor: he will carry out diagnostic tests to identify the cause of the oedema and treat it.

William O.