7 Unexpected Signs of Heart Issues Everyone Should Know

Fewer people die from heart disease than in the past, thanks to increased awareness of healthy eating and advances in treatment. Nonetheless, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States as of January 2022.

Although heart attack symptoms can be the first signs of trouble (and keep in mind that women have different symptoms than men), the body can also provide more subtle indications that something is wrong.

Here is a list of symptoms to consider discussing with your healthcare provider.

1. You're Constantly Fatigued
This is extreme fatigue, not "lack of sleep" fatigue. Consider how you feel when you have the flu but it doesn't go away.

Many women kind of blow this off, assuming it's nothing and that they will feel better, but in reality, it could be a sign of your heart. The reason you feel that way is due to a lack of oxygen.

Having said that, many people are tired for a variety of reasons. If this is your only symptom, consult your doctor, but don't assume you have heart disease based on this alone.

2. Your Feet Swell Regularly
Swollen feet can occur for a variety of reasons, including pregnancy, varicose veins, and a lack of movement. Swelling may also indicate heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart pumps blood inefficiently.

Swelling can also occur when a heart valve fails to close properly. Other symptoms associated with heart-related foot swelling include shortness of breath and/or fatigue. If you've recently developed foot swelling, consult your vein doctor to determine what's causing it and how to treat it.

3. You Experience Extreme Pain When Walking
Don't dismiss if your hip and leg muscles cramp when you climb, walk, or move but feel better when you rest. The pain could be caused by aging or a lack of exercise, or it could be a sign of peripheral arterial disease or PAD.

PAD is a fatty plaque buildup in the legs' arteries linked to an increased risk of heart disease. If you have PAD, you have a 50% chance of having a blockage in one of your heart arteries. The good news is that PAD can be treated.

4. You Get Dizzy or Lightheaded
Dizziness is one of those symptoms that a variety of factors can cause.

It can be caused by dehydration or "getting up too quickly," but if it occurs regularly, consult your healthcare provider. Medication side effects, inner ear issues, anemia, or, less commonly, heart problems could all be to blame.

5. You Have Dyspnea
Despite your three weekly cycling classes, you get winded walking up a flight of stairs or cough a lot. It could be asthma, anemia, an infection, or a heart valve or pumping capacity problem.

Fluid accumulation on the left side of the heart can cause wheezing that mimics bronchial asthma. Once the valve is repaired, fluid no longer accumulates in the lungs, allowing the patient to breathe more easily.

6. You Experience Depression
Depression affects 5% of the world's adult population. Depression is most likely not a sign of heart disease. However, mental health is linked to physical health.

According to research, people who are depressed are more likely to have heart problems. In addition, according to a June 2021 Family Practice study, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression can be risk factors for each other.

7. You Get Migraines
A headache is sometimes just a headache. However, frequent migraines indicate that something is wrong with your heart.

The researchers discovered a link between cardiovascular events and migraine, particularly migraines with aura as a symptom. Aura is a condition that affects one out of every three migraine sufferers and causes recurring headaches as well as other sensory disturbances such as flashes of light, blind spots, and tingling.