Knowing the dangers

Feeling faint or off-balance for less than a minute should be fine, but if you feel prolonged unsteadiness with chest discomfort and shortness of breath, call for medical help right away.

WOULD you know if something was seriously wrong with your heart?

Despite the classic chestclutching climax soap operas would have you believe, a heart attack is only one of the many problems your heart could be subject to.

A heart attack may be the most obvious symptom of underlying heart-related conditions, but some heart disease symptoms may not even occur in the chest area. If you notice something amiss, get a professional opinion and go from there.

Individuals at higher risk of heart disease:

Are aged 60 or older

Are overweight

Have diabetes

Have high cholesterol Suffer from high blood pressure

If you fit into one or more of these categories, chances are your risk of developing a heart disease is higher. Many heart issues result in a heart attack, so here are some problems to watch out for.

Radiating pain down your

arm – A typical heart attack symptom you read about on clinic posters is pain that spreads down the left side of your upper body. The pain almost always starts in the chest and diffuses outward.

However, some people experience isolated left-arm pain that, when examined, turns out to be a heart attack.

Previous heart attack patients describe the pain as a growing ache that they passed off as overexertion from sports and other physical activities.

Throat or jaw pain – This is a common symptom due to its association with colds and sinuslated issues. ike a few of the items on this ai probably not heart-related when they occur independently, but if pain or a tight pressure that starts in the centre of your chest spreads up to your throat or jaw, it could be a sign of a heart attack. Chest pain and discomfort – The tell-all symptom of heart problems and the most commonly misconstrued, chest discomfort could occur due to myriad reasons.

Many people panic when a sharp pain shoots through their chest and jump to the conclusion that they are having a heart attack, but chest pain could indicate a lot of other conditions. If it persists, though, always obtain a medical opinion by getting it checked.

The pain often presents itself as a tight, painful pressure on the chest and usually does not pass with time. However, if it is a fleeting ache or a small area on the chest that hurts when pressed or pushed with a finger, it is usually not a heart attack. As aforementioned, if the pain persists, call for an ambulance immediately.

For women in particula a attacks so a painful indication. This is true for a number of heart and heart-related diseases, so if you are within any of the at-risk categories mentioned above, undergoing regular check-ups to be safe is wise.

Dizziness and lightheadedness – Many things contribute to dizziness, including lack of food, standing up too fast and momentary vertigo.

Feeling faint or off-balance for less than a minute should be fine, but if you feel prolonged unsteadiness with chest discomfort and shortness of breath, call for medical help right away.

If it is a heart attack, your heart is not able to pump blood the way it should and that drops your blood pressure, causing the dizziness.

Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or stomach pain – These symptoms stem from the dizziness or may occur independently. People having a heart attack may even vomit.

Most people pass these symptoms off as normal occurrences, especially in old age, as they are often associated with diet. However, it is important to ta et hese symptoms also ng ear c r more likely than men to report these symptoms. If you experience them along with one or more other symptoms on this list, seek medical attention immediately.

Persistent coughing – Usually, coughing would not be considered a sign of heart trouble, but if you already have a heart condition or are aware of your status in one or more at-risk categories, it would be wise to pay more attention to what your body is telling you.

If you have a persistent cough that expels white or pink mucus, it could be a sign of heart failure.

When the heart is overexerted and cannot keep up with the blood supply from the pulmonary vein that carries blood from the lungs to the heart, its strong valves start deteriorating in function, causing blood to leak back into the lungs and resulting in fluid build-up. retentionare indicationsSwollenor bloatinglowerof bigger limbsin the problems– body Water you When might the have. heart weakens and is unable to pump fast enough, blood sup ly to the rest of the body is compromised and slowed, causing blood to "back up" in the veins and hinder waste-oxygen exchange in the bloodstream. Heart failure can also affect your kidneys and impact their ability to excrete excess water and sodium from the bloodstream, which can lead to bloating. The parts usually affected are the legs, ankles and feet as with water retention, excess moisture typically succumbs to gravitational force and ends up in the lowest points of the body.

Irregular heartbeat - Romance novels tell your heart may skip a beat when you look at an attractive person and it is normal for your heart to race when nervous or excited, but if you feel constant offbeat thumps in your chest, it is worth a visit to the doctor’s.

Your heart does skip or add a beat once in a while, but it should not be doing it all the time. In most cases, it is caused by something that is easy to fix, such as palpitations due to caffeine or lack of sleep.

Occasionally, however, it could indicate a condition called atrial fibrillation (AFib) that requires treatment. AFib is a condition due to arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) that can cause blood clots, stroke and heart failure.

Constant fatigue – If you are experiencing sudden exhaustion or feeling winded after performing a physical activity you previously had no problem with such as climbing stairs or doing strenuous house chores, get medical attention right away.

Changes like these are often normal with ageing, but it is important to note sudden and significant shifts in energy level.

Extreme exhaustion or unexplained weakness that persists for days at a time can be a symptom of a heart attack, especially in women.

• Excessive sweating — This symptom can be hard to detect in the humid Malaysian climate, but cold sweats are usually very noticeable. Breaking out into a cold sweat could signal a heart attack. If it occurs with any of the other symptoms on this list, make sure to receive immediate medical attention.

A common mistake people make his attempting to get themselves to the hospital when they fear a heart attack – trying to drive in that condition could be fatal. Have emergency services on speed dial and call them instead.

Severe snoring – nooz often accompanied wit a lit snoring. However, unusuall l snoring that sounds like s i u gasping or choking can b s sleep apnoea.

Sleep apnoea occurs h n ou cease breathing for bri mo nts several times through the night while sleeping.

People who sleep alone are usually unaware of this occurrence, and prolonged sleep apnoea puts extra stress on your heart.

Sleep apnoea is often treated with a C-PAP machine, which patients use when they sleep to regulate their breathing and reduce

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cardiovascular stress.

Today, we celebrate World Heart Day in light of rising heart disease rates globally. As Malaysians, cardiovascular disease is our No.1 killer, apparently due to our roti canai and nasi lemak all-day breakfasts.

However, we do not have to give up eating our favourite national foods altogether to maintain a healthy heart.

Balance in all areas of life, including diet, physical activity, stress management and rest, is key in keeping your heart beating away happily. Preserve and improve your heart health not only for yourself but for loved ones around you, too.