Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death across the globe, but many of its symptoms might go unnoticed (1). Around 7.6 million Britons suffer from the disease, with 160,000 dying each year.

Types of Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and aortic disease are the four basic kinds of heart disease. The first is a blockage of the blood supply to the heart, usually caused by a buildup of fatty cholesterol in the arteries, which can result in a heart attack. Strokes are triggered by similar obstructions that cut off the brain’s oxygen supply. Peripheral arterial disease is characterized by similar clots in your legs, which can produce cramping or dullness. Meanwhile, aortic disease causes the aorta’s wall — the main blood conduit in the body that transports blood from the heart to the rest of the body — to weaken and bulge outwards. In other situations, it produces pain in your chest, as well as your back or stomach.

Professor Elijah Behr, a consultant cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and St George’s Hospital in London said, “There can be “serious red flags” to look out for with heart diseases. For some people, they may have the risk that heart disease is developing but won’t necessarily have any symptoms that highlight it. But some symptoms can raise concern, particularly of coronary artery disease, which is firming of the arteries and is one of the most common causes of heart disease.”

Breathlessness and Sneezing: Subtle Warning Signs of Heart Disease

Another indicator that you may have heart disease is sneezing or panting. Feeling short of breath may suggest that you have heart failure, which is frequently caused by coronary heart disease (2), an irregular heart rhythm, or are about to have a heart attack. “Chest pain or breathlessness on exertion can be a sign of coronary artery disease,” stated Professor Behr. “The symptoms of heart failure include breathlessness during exertion as well as breathlessness at rest for some people who may be severely affected. Some people may feel breathless simply lying flat in bed or require pillows to help them sit up — this can be a sign that heart failure is developing.”

Ankles and Abdomen Swelling: Not Just A Foot Problem, But A Heart Alert

Swelling in your lower legs can potentially indicate heart failure or poor circulation in your legs (3). It could signal that you have a clot in your leg that is preventing blood from returning to your heart. “Swelling in the ankles or the abdomen, these are potential signs of developing heart failure,” Professor Behr stated.

Fluttering Heartbeats: Possible Sign of Cardiac Disturbance

Feeling your heart fluttering may potentially be an indication of cardiac trouble (4). “Another symptom that may indicate that there is underlying heart disease is symptoms related to heart rhythm disturbances,” Professor Behr stated. “They can sometimes cause palpitation because the heart rhythm is disrupted in some way. That could be the heartbeat racing or being erratic, or both.”

Dizziness as a Potential Cardiac Indicator

Lightheadedness and dizziness can occur if your heart does not pump enough blood to your brain. This could be due to heart failure, an irregular cardiac rhythm, or a less obvious symptom of a heart attack (5). Professor Behr said, “If rhythm disturbances are severe, they may cause people to feel dizzy or lose consciousness. Antecedent loss of consciousness, palpitations causing dizziness, and other serious red flags” are also vital to be aware of.”

Change of Skin Color is a Predictor of Heart Health

Poor circulation can cause areas of your skin, notably your fingers and toes, to turn blue or grey (6). This could imply that blood arteries are constricted or clogged. “It depends on whether there is an associated disease with the blood vessels supplying the skin, which could point to coronary artery disease,” Professor Behr said. “If you have heart failure, there can be tissue congestion caused by a buildup of blood and fluid in the heart and throughout the body. That congestion of tissues can back up into the body as a whole, which causes swelling and affects the skin as well. Changes in skin color or texture may occur, but this is usually at a relatively late stage of heart disease.”

Erectile Dysfunction: An Unexpected Sign of Heart Health

Men who have difficulty performing in bed may be at risk of heart disease (7). Problems obtaining an erection may signal that the blood supply to your manhood is inadequate, indicating artery problems. “Erectile dysfunction is quite common,” stated Professor Behr. “It could indicate an issue with the arteries that supply that portion of the anatomy. It can also be associated with conditions such as diabetes, so it could be a sign, but it is frequently an advanced sign.”

Battling Extreme Fatigue? Your Heart Might Be The Reason

Because the organ no longer pumps enough blood across the body, heart failure can induce severe fatigue (8). Professor Behr said, “Fatigue would probably fit in more with the heart failure symptoms.”

Oral Health is Linked with Heart Disease

Several studies have connected gum disease to heart disease (9). Some doctors believe that germs in your mouth can enter your bloodstream and cause heart irritation. According to a study, having gum disease increases your odds of having a stroke.

Heart Health Clues Using Fingernail Markers

Endocarditis can be identified by specks of blood caught under your fingernails. This is an infection in the lining of your heart valves caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and traveling to the heart (10). Diabetes, which increases your risk of heart disease and stroke by up to four times, could be the cause of the symptoms.

Link Between Diabetes and Heart Disease

Diabetes can also result in dark, velvety patches where skin folds and wrinkles, such as the neck, armpits, and groin. These are referred to as acanthosis nigricans. The patches may also contain skin tags, indicating that your body is straining to manufacture insulin. We already know that diabetes increases the risk of heart disease.

How Hand Strength May Indicate Heart Health

According to a study, how hard you can hold could also suggest how strong your heart is. According to studies, being ability to squeeze something tightly predicts a lower risk of heart disease (11). However, simply increasing your grip strength will not lessen your chances of developing the illness.

Sleep Apnea Increases Risk of Heart Disease

Sleep apnea can increase your risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, strokes, and heart failure. Snoring that is interrupted by pauses in breathing might lower the amount of oxygen reaching the brain. This leads the brain to produce signals that cause the heart to work harder to move blood around, raising the dangers (12).