Introduction
If you’re concerned about your heart health, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a heart problem. One of the most important signs is your diet. Eating the right foods can help keep your heart healthy, while eating the wrong foods can increase your risk of developing a heart problem. In this article, we’ll discuss the one sure sign you may have a heart problem and provide tips on what to eat and what to avoid. We’ll also provide some simple lifestyle changes that can help reduce your risk of developing a heart problem.
The One Sure Sign You May Have a Heart Problem — Eat This Not That
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a heart problem. While chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack, there are other signs that may indicate a heart issue. One of the most important signs is your diet.
Eating a diet high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol can increase your risk of developing heart disease. Eating a diet that is low in these unhealthy fats and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help reduce your risk. Additionally, limiting your intake of processed and fast foods can help keep your heart healthy.
If you’re concerned about your heart health, it’s important to pay attention to what you’re eating. Eating a diet that is low in unhealthy fats and high in healthy foods can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Additionally, limiting your intake of processed and fast foods can help keep your heart healthy.
If you’re concerned about your heart health, it’s important to talk to your doctor. Your doctor can help you determine if you’re at risk for heart disease and can provide advice on how to reduce your risk. Additionally, your doctor can help you create a diet plan that is tailored to your individual needs.
Like many serious illnesses, heart trouble can sneak up on you. It’s important to be alert to the signals your body may be trying to send you, so you can catch heart trouble early and seek medical attention—when a heart attack hits, time is of the essence. This is the one sure sign you may have a heart problem. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You May Have Already Had COVID.
The most common symptom of heart trouble is chest discomfort: pain, uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or fullness.
“Classic cardiac pain is a heavy discomfort in the center of your chest that feels like a tightening or squeezing,” says Robert Greenfield, MD, a double-board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute in Fountain Valley, California. “It may radiate down your arms—usually the left arm or both arms—and may be associated with shortness of breath and possibly a cold sweat.”
If chest pain comes on with exertion and goes away with rest, it’s called angina, “and that may be a critical warning sign that your heart is in trouble.” Greenfield adds. “Angina pain lasts a few minutes, but if the pain is prolonged then 911 may be the best next step.”
But some initial signs of heart trouble happen in other parts of the body. Read on to find out what they are.
“I usually tell patients that any new symptom that occurs with exercise is something to pay attention to,” says Nicole Weinberg, MD, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. “For example, say you newly get nauseous with your workout. That is something we would need to further and more closely examine to find out what the cause is.”
A rule of thumb: “If a symptom comes on, particularly with exertion, and doesn’t abate for five minutes, you should call your doctor or report to the ER,” says Weinberg.
If you often have to rest or stop to catch your breath while doing things you could previously do easily, it could be a warning sign of heart trouble. For example, if you find yourself gasping for air after walking up a flight of stairs, it could be heart-related.
If you’re persistently tired without a clear cause, it could be a sign your heart isn’t pumping properly. If you’re chronically fatigued and your normal daily activities haven’t increased, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor.
Pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw, and stomach may not be the first things you think of when looking out for heart disease. But these atypical symptoms can be the first signs of heart trouble or a heart attack, especially in women, the American Heart Association says. And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don’t miss these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.