5 Hidden heart symptoms you should know

Most of us know the classic symptoms of a heart attack – chest pain, pain down an arm, shortness of breath, nausea – but there are other, more subtle signs of serious heart trouble. Recognizing them could save your life, a top cardiologist tells Newsmax Health.

Here are five hidden symptoms that could signal heart trouble:

1. Unexplained fatigue. If you suddenly can’t do normal activities without feeling lightheaded or feel unreasonably tired, it may signal that your heart is malfunctioning. Your heart is your body’s engine, pumping blood to fuel your movements. If there’s a change, it may mean there’s something faulty in your heart’s electrical system or valve action.

2. Erectile dysfunction. An Australian study of more than 90,000 men showed that the worse the erectile dysfunction, the greater the risk of heart disease and early death. Another study published in the journal Circulation in 2010 showed that men with erectile dysfunction were twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease or to die of a heart attack as the rest of the population. When ED strikes, men should ask their doctor to check their heart. 

3. Leg swelling (edema). Sometimes leg and ankle swelling is temporary and caused by hormonal issues such as pregnancy, a salty diet, or medication. But it may also be a sign that the heart’s pumping ability is losing efficiency. If you suffer from unexplained leg edema, see your doctor. 

4. Anxiety, panic, quick temper. Emotion-based symptoms aren’t usually discussed when it comes to heart disease. But people stricken with a heart attack often say the first sign was unexplained anxiety or a panic attack. Anger can be a heart attack trigger. A large study published in Circulation in 2000 found that people who were the angriest had twice the risk of coronary heart disease and almost three times the risk of heart attack.

5. Holiday Heart Syndrome. This term was coined when emergency physicians noticed a rise in emergency room visits during the holidays when people overdrink and overeat. This can lead to irregular heartbeat, which presents as a fluttering feeling in the chest. In some cases, this can lead to heart attack, although in most cases irregular heartbeat is treatable. It’s important to mention this symptom to your doctor, who may prescribe an electrocardiogram (ECG) or ask you to wear a heart monitor to track changes.

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