Learn to Recognize these Lesser Known Signs of a Heart Attack

About 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack every year, and around 655,000 don’t survive it, making it the leading cause of death in America. If everyone knew about and paid attention to the underlying signs that indicate a heart issue, these numbers could go down.

At Medinet Family Care Clinic in Houston and Sugar Land, Texas, Bharat Gandhi, MD, Priya Gandhi, MD, MPH, and the rest of our team provide superior care for your heart. Our goal is to protect you from heart disease. While it’s easy to notice the obvious signs of a heart attack, it’s important to understand the not-so-obvious signs to look for. Earlier treatment makes you more likely to survive the attack.

The lesser known signs include:

1. Irregular heartbeat

If you experience anything in your heart that feels out-of-the-ordinary, such as a rapid flutter or an inconsistent beat, typically, it’s harmless. But in some cases, it can indicate that you have a heart issue. That’s why it’s best to schedule an appointment with our team for a thorough evaluation if you notice heartbeat changes.

2. Extreme fatigue

When your heart doesn’t pump at its full capacity, you can experience fatigue or tiredness that won’t go away, which can be a signal of heart failure.

3. Random aches and pains

A blockage of blood supply to your heart can cause pain in your chest, but it can reach other places in your body, too. You might feel aches in your shoulders, back, arms, stomach, and even in your jaw. If your pain occurs while you’re exercising but dissipates while you’re at rest, this could be a sign of heart disease.

4. Swelling of the feet

Any time you have puffiness in your feet or ankles, you could be showing signs of heart failure. To check for swelling, gently push your fingers against your skin and see if you notice an indentation. 

Swelling might also be a sign of eating too much salt, possible kidney disease, a lack of blood flow in your legs, or liver failure. That’s why you should schedule an appointment with our team to check it out.

5. Unexplained shortness of breath

When you exercise, your heart rate goes up, which causes you to breathe more heavily. But if your activity doesn’t seem to warrant getting out of breath, you could have an issue with your heart.  

Other underlying signs include nausea, vomiting, and sweating. If you’re not feeling well, you should reach out to us as quickly as possible. 

We can also consult with you about any changes you’ve noticed when you come in for your annual physical exam. It’s important that we identify any issues with your heart as soon as possible, and treat your condition, as needed.

Contact us today by calling the location that’s convenient for you, or book your appointment online. You can also send our team a message with any questions, concerns, or comments on our contact page.