Heart Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

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ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — More than 800 thousand people have a heart attack in the US each year. Seeking prompt medical care can save your life if you’re having a heart attack, but some warning signs can be tricky to identify. Ivanhoe tells us about heart symptoms you shouldn’t ignore.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the US has a heart attack. Chest pain and shortness of breath are common symptoms, but did you know there are some lesser-known warning signs?

Prakash Balan, MD, Interventional Cardiologist, Banner – University Medicine Heart Institute explains, “There are probably many risk factors that we don’t yet fully appreciate.”

For instance, dizziness and nausea are possible symptoms of a heart attack. So is neck or jaw pain and even problems with your teeth can signal heart trouble.

Annabelle Volgman, MD, Medical Director at Rush Heart Center for Women says, “I had a patient who had a toothache that turned out to be her symptom for having a heart attack.”

A cough that won’t go away could also be a sign of heart failure – especially if it produces white or pink mucus. And a blue or purple net-like pattern on your skin may mean you have a blocked artery. Swelling in your lower legs or feet might indicate that your heart isn’t working properly. And watch out for yellowish-orange, waxy growths on the skin, which could be a symptom of unhealthy cholesterol levels.

Doctor Balan says, “Pay attention to your symptoms. If you are having symptoms, get them checked out.”

With unusual signs of heart trouble.

A recent study found that drinking two or more cups of coffee a day may double the risk of heart death in people with high blood pressure.

Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20someone,heart%20attack%20every%2040%20seconds.&text=Every%20year%2C%20about%20805%2C000%20people,States%20have%20a%20heart%20attack.&text=Of%20these%2C,are%20a%20first%20heart%20attack

https://www.insider.com/5-signs-of-heart-failure-from-nurse-who-missed-arrhythmia-2022-12

https://www.deccanherald.com/content/362517/toothache-signal-cardiac-arrest.html

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/heart-disease-warning-signs

https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/never-ignore-symptoms

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/heart-disease-warning-signs

HEART SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULDN’T IGNORE

REPORT #3057

BACKGROUND: Heart attacks affect over 800 thousand people every year in the United States. They are also called myocardial infarctions and are a very serious life-threatening medical condition. They take place when the blood flow to a part of the heart that is blocked, usually by a build up of plaque in the arteries. Heart attacks can cause significant damage to the heart muscle and can result in death if not treated promptly. The risk of having a heart attack increases with age. In the United States, the average age for a heart attack is 65 years old for men and 72 for women. While they are more common in men than women, women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men are. Common factors that can increase the risk of having a heart attack are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and family history of heart disease.

(Source: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20someone,heart%20attack%20every%2040%20seconds.&text=Every%20year%2C%20about%20805%2C000%20people,States%20have%20a%20heart%20attack.&text=Of%20these%2C,are%20a%20first%20heart%20attack

THE STUDY: While chest pain or discomfort is a common symptom of a heart attack, not everyone experiences this symptom. Some people may have a heart attack without feeling any chest pain at all. Some people may feel nauseous or may vomit during a heart attack, which can be mistaken for indigestion or a stomach virus. In addition to chest pain, a heart attack can cause pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. This pain may come and go or be constant. Feeling dizzy or lightheaded, especially when standing up or exerting oneself, can also be a symptom of a heart attack. Long lasting coughs that produce pink and white mucus are also a sign of heart failure, usually if you are at risk of a heart disease. This occurs because the heart fails to keep speed with the body’s demands and blood leaks into the lungs. If accompanied by other symptoms, breaking out into a cold sweat is another danger sign to be aware of.

(Source: https://www.insider.com/5-signs-of-heart-failure-from-nurse-who-missed-arrhythmia-2022-12

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/heart-disease-warning-signs

NEW REGULATIONS: In recent years, there have been new regulations and guidelines put in place to help healthcare providers identify and treat heart-related symptoms more effectively. The American Heart Association has developed a set of guidelines called “Life’s Simple 7” that aim to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. The guidelines include maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, not smoking, eating a healthy diet, controlling cholesterol, managing blood pressure, and controlling blood sugar. The seven factors are separated into three categories including: ideal, intermediate, and poor. Those with ideal measures of all seven metrics are thought to have ideal cardiovascular health. New studies also show that drinking two or more cups a day of coffee can double the dangers of heart failure in people with severe hypertension.

(Source: https://playbook.heart.org/lifes-simple-7/

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/drinking-2-more-cups-coffee-100000355.html?guccounter=1

* For More Information, Contact:            Charlie Jolie

Charles_L_Jolie@rush.ed

David Lozano

David.Lozano@bannerhealth.com

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