Early signs of heart disease in males

Dr.Ashish Agarwal, 3 mins read

Do we get early signs before heart disease? This is a common question because most of us know that heart disease occurs suddenly. Yes, indeed, many heart diseases occur suddenly. 

But many times, there are prior indications that many of us don’t know. Because of this, we keep ignoring the symptoms and end up at a stage where advanced medical intervention becomes crucial. 

That’s why getting timely help from a cardiologist is the best choice. This is especially true for people with other risk factors like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol levels. 

Not sure about the symptoms? 

Most of us think that heart symptoms are always related to chest pain, followed by a fall to the floor, as we see in movies. But that’s not the complete truth. Sometimes, there are symptoms other than chest pain, which are usually confused with symptoms of other conditions. 

To help you out, we have brought you this blog, where we will discuss the common symptoms of heart disease, especially in males. 

Chest discomfort

This is the most common sign of heart disease, especially heart attack. Having a feeling of pain, tightness, squeezing, or pressure in the chest should never be taken lightly. 

Everyone expresses such feelings differently. Some say it feels like an elephant is sitting on their chest, and some report it as a burning sensation. This feeling usually lasts longer than a few minutes. 

Chest pain could be an indication of poor blood flow to the heart. Sometimes, these symptoms may be related to any other condition, like gas pain, especially if a particular spot hurts when touched. 

Still, such symptoms should not be ignored. It’s important to immediately consult a doctor and get an ECG done, especially if you have the comorbidities mentioned above.

Shortness of breath

When the heart is not able to pump properly, the fluid may leak into the lungs. This can lead to shortness of breath. However, there could be other causes as well for shortness of breath. 

But like the above one, don’t take shortness of breath - without any known reason - lightly. This can happen while resting or sleeping on the back; sometimes, it awakens the person from sleep. It can be a sign of heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure.

Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet

When the heart doesn’t work properly, the blood flow slows down, which causes blood accumulation in leg veins. This causes swelling in the legs. Sometimes, swelling is also visible in the stomach.   

Pain that spreads to the arm

This is one of the classic symptoms of a heart attack. Many patients report pain that radiates from the chest downward to the left side. Some patients also report pain in their left arms. 

Fatigue

Fatigue can have many reasons. It’s not always the concern. Sometimes, it is just an indication that you may need rest. But if it happens more often than normal and affects your daily errands, you should consult a doctor. 

Fast or uneven heartbeat 

If your heart can’t pump blood properly, it can cause the heart to work harder. This can make you feel that your heart is racing or throbbing. It can be an indication of arrhythmia or any other heart problem. 

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Losing balance or feeling faint for a moment can happen to anyone at some point in their life. But if this problem becomes more frequent, you should consult a doctor. It could also be an indication of an underlying problem that needs to be addressed promptly.