How do you know if you have heart disease?
Symptoms that may indicate that you have heart disease include:
- Chest pain, pressure, discomfort, or tightness
- Being short of breath
- Experiencing numbness, coldness, weakness, or pain in your toes, feet, or fingers
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded, especially when you stand up or fainting for no apparent reason
- Headaches
- A fluttering, racing, irregular, or slow heartbeat
- Pain that radiates up your neck, throat, jaw, or across your upper abdomen or back
- Pale gray or blue skin color
- Swelling in the lower legs, ankles, feet, or hands
- Easily becoming short of breath or tired with light amounts of physical activity
- Feeling tired or fatigued all the time.
Some people develop a build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels around the heart, called coronary artery disease. This build-up happens slowly over many years without any symptoms until eventually one of the blood vessels becomes narrowed or blocked, preventing blood and oxygen supply to that area of the heart, causing chest pain or a heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction). Symptoms of coronary artery disease and even a heart attack may be different for men and women. Men are more likely to have chest pain but women are more likely to experience chest discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, and extreme fatigue.
These are some of the symptoms that may indicate you have heart disease, but for many people, heart disease has no symptoms, that is why it is often referred to as the “silent killer”. It is not until a person experiences a significant event (such as a heart attack or stroke) or their doctor runs some tests as part of a routine checkup, that they discover damage or changes to their heart and/or blood vessels. If you have any risk factors for heart disease listed below, see your doctor at least every year for a checkup.
Related questions
- How to increase ejection fraction naturally?
- How can you check for heart disease at home?
- Does metoprolol lower resting heart rate?
What are some risk factors for heart disease?
Heart disease is easier to treat when detected early. If you have no symptoms of heart disease listed above but you have risk factors for heart disease (listed below) then see your doctor at least yearly for a checkup. Risk factors for heart disease include:
- A family member, such as a father, mother, brother, or sister, with heart disease
- A history of an infection known to affect the heart (such as rheumatic fever)
- A poor diet high in fats, sugar, or salt
- Diabetes
- Drug abuse
- Excessive use of alcohol or caffeine
- Gum disease or tooth decay (germs can enter your bloodstream and affect your heart)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Obesity
- Older age
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
- Stress.
References
- Heart Disease. Mayo Clinic. 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353118
Read next
Can I take ibuprofen with blood pressure medications?
Be careful when taking ibuprofen with blood pressure medicines because the combination may cause serious kidney damage in some people, particularly older adults or people who are dehydrated. The risk is higher if you also take a diuretic (water pill), in addition to your blood pressure medications. People taking blood pressure medications AND diuretics should avoid taking ibuprofen. If you take blood pressure medications, then you should always talk to your healthcare provider before taking ibuprofen. Do not just buy it from a supermarket or drug store without telling your healthcare provider you are taking it. This is so that they can monitor the effects it has on your kidneys. Ibuprofen can also counteract the effects of blood pressure medications, so your healthcare provider will need to check your blood pressure regularly as well. Continue reading
Metoprolol Succinate vs Tartrate: What's the difference between them?
Metoprolol is available as two different salts: metoprolol tartrate and metoprolol succinate.
The main difference between metoprolol tartrate and metoprolol succinate is that metoprolol tartrate is only available as an immediate-release tablet which means it must be taken several times per day, whereas metoprolol succinate is an extended-release tablet that can be taken once a day. As a result, there are differences in the dosages and indications for both metoprolol tartrate and metoprolol succinate and they are not considered interchangeable. Continue reading
Should you drink a lot of water when taking Lasix?
You should avoid becoming dehydrated while taking Lasix, but you do not need to drink a lot of extra water unless your healthcare provider recommends it. In some cases, you may need to restrict the amount of fluids you drink if you have kidney, liver, or heart problems. Ask your doctor the specific amount of water and other fluids you should drink everyday to avoid getting dehydrated, and follow those directions. Continue reading
See also:
Qulipta
Qulipta is used to help prevent episodic or chronic migraine headaches in adults. Qulipta is an ...
Aimovig
Learn about Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) a once-monthly, injectable medication that can be ...
Ozempic
Learn about Ozempic (semaglutide) for type 2 diabetes treatment, weight management, cardiovascular ...
Gemtesa
Gemtesa (vibegron) is used to treat overactive bladder symptoms (OAB) in adults or men taking ...
Ubrelvy
Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) tablets are used for the acute treatment of migraine. Includes Ubrelvy side ...
Nurtec ODT
Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) is used to treat acute migraines and prevent episodic migraines, by ...
Xeomin
Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA) is used to treat cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, upper facial lines ...
Tazarotene topical
Tazarotene topical is a type of retinoid derived from vitamin A that is available as cream, gel ...
Topiramate
Learn about topiramate, an anticonvulsant used for seizures, migraine prevention, and weight loss ...
Related medical questions
- What are the equivalent dosages of bumetanide, furosemide & torsemide?
- Losartan vs Valsartan - What's the difference between them?
- Which drugs increase ejection fraction?
- Can Jardiance cause kidney problems?
- What is Trimetazidine used for?
- What is the normal ejection fraction of the heart?
- What is the antidote for warfarin?
- How much does Entresto cost per month?
- Is Entresto a blood thinner that lowers blood pressure?
- Does walking/exercise improve ejection fraction?
- Does Farxiga cause weight loss?
- How long does it take for Farxiga to work?
- How does Jardiance help with heart failure?
- Can Farxiga cause kidney damage?
- How is atenolol superior to metoprolol?
- What is Farxiga used for and how does it work?
- Can Zepbound and Mounjaro be used for heart failure?
- Can Farxiga cause constipation?
- Why does warfarin cause purple toe syndrome?
- What is levosimendan used for?
- Why are Warfarin tablets color-coded?
- Does Adriamycin cause heart failure?
- Can Wegovy or Ozempic be used for heart failure?
- 6 Wegovy side effects you need to be aware of
- What are the long-term side effects of Ozempic?
- Ozempic Mounjaro Wegovy & Zepbound: Weight Loss Compared
- Wegovy vs Ozempic: Which is Right for You?
- How long does it take for Ozempic to work?
- How many doses are in an Ozempic pen?
- How long to see weight loss results with Wegovy?
Related support groups
- Heart Failure (78 questions, 166 members)
- Cardiovascular Risk Reduction (101 questions, 28 members)
- Heart Attack (78 questions, 191 members)
- Heart Disease (63 questions, 223 members)
- Cardiovascular Conditions and Disorders (17 questions, 16 members)
- Heart Murmur (1 questions, 7 members)