2 weeks Ago By Hanna Geissler
Everyone experiences sweating, nausea and tiredness from time to time. But a leading cardiologist has explained the circumstances in which such symptoms should not be ignored. Dr Ameet Bakhai, a consultant at Spire Bushey Hospital, said people too often ignored subtle signs that something is wrong until it is too late.
He added: "There’s no annual MOT to be passed for most of us, so we ignore the small signals that our own engine is not performing ideally. Heart issues can often get progressively worse, until one day you have a more complicated issue — that could have been avoided if you'd heeded the warning signs.” Symptoms that could be a sign of a serious problem include sweating after only light exertion, nausea accompanied by chest ache, and tiredness after waking up.
Pain in the arms or heaviness when extending an arm could also be a warning sign, along with shortness of breath when walking up stairs, and frequent or missed heartbeats. Pain in the left arm particularly can be a sign of a heart attack or other serious issue and should be checked out immediately. Other possible symptoms include difficulty bending down and standing up, feeling dizzy when standing up, and swollen legs, all of which can indicate that your heart is not adapting to your positions well.
Healthy adults should also be able to hold their breath comfortably for 20 seconds. The consultant shared his advice after a survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by Healthspan's Love Your Heart supplement range found 54% would not associate these symptoms with poor heart health. The research found one in five adults reported feeling dizzy after standing up too quickly and 11% had experienced chest tightness.
But 26% did not think those symptoms were serious. Dr Bakhai said heart issues could be connected to other changes in your health. He added: “You might consider not being able to run up two flights of stairs more of a lung condition or a lack of fitness or of weight gain, but there is a lot of overlap with coronary artery disease or heart valve problems or irregular heart rhythms.
“So, looking after your heart health is essential and should be planned as a new year resolution every year.” Here’s the full list of 10 heart symptoms to look for:.
