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11 signs you might have heart disease

Will that pain clothing off, or is it time to see your doctor or fifty-fifty phone call an ambulance? BHF Professor David Newby highlights the eleven symptoms that y'all demand to take seriously.

Effectually xi per cent of men and ix per cent of women in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland take been diagnosed with some class of heart or circulatory illness. But what symptoms can nosotros look out for that might indicate a potential centre problem? David Newby, BHF John Wheatley Professor of Cardiology at the BHF Centre of Research Excellence at the University of Edinburgh, tells united states of america more than about xi signs that could mean it's fourth dimension to run across a doctor.

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1. Chest pain

Information technology'southward the classic sign of a heart assail, all the same many people don't realise this could be a medical emergency.

Professor Newby says: "If you lot have chest hurting and yous experience extremely unwell, y'all should dial 999 and get an ambulance as soon as possible. If it's a heart assault, it's commonly described as a heaviness, tightness or pressure in the breast; people will often draw information technology as 'an elephant sat on my chest' or 'it felt like a tight band around my breast,' that sort of constricting feeling.

"If chest pains occur when you are exerting yourself, but get away when you stop, that would propose it's more likely to exist angina. That would still mean you should go and see a doctor, but you don't take to call 999."

Professor Newby advises that chest pains accompanied by feeling extremely unwell, mean it is probably the right time to call 999 and request an ambulance.

2. Feeling sick

Obviously not every bout of nausea equals a middle attack – but if you're getting pain besides, warning bells should ring. Professor Newby says: "If you experience intense chest pain even when you are only sitting around doing nothing and yous are as well feeling ill, that is the time to call for an ambulance."

If you're getting some discomfort, but not intense pain, as well equally feeling ill, call NHS 111 for advice.

3. Breadbasket hurting or indigestion

An indigestion-type pain or a burning sensation in your chest or stomach tin can be a sign of a heart attack or related center trouble. Professor Newby says: "Because the middle, the gullet [the passage between your mouth and stomach] and the tummy are all lying right next to each other, the challenge, for both members of the public and doctors, is that a burning or indigestion-type pain and heart pain can exist difficult to disentangle. You could telephone call NHS 111 for advice – they have certain algorithms they use, simply they aren't perfect as there are no difficult and fast rules that use to anybody."

iv. Feeling sweaty

Working up a sweat when you've been to the gym or because information technology'due south a actually hot day, is cipher to worry nigh. But feeling hot and clammy forth with chest pains is a sign that y'all should call an ambulance.

5. Leg pain

Professor Newby says: "If you get a gripping, cramping sensation in your calves when you are walking, information technology might exist worth seeing your dr., as that can be a marker of PAD (peripheral arterial disease). It'south most common in smokers and people who have diabetes." Brand an appointment with your GP.

6. Arm hurting

You might not associate arm pain with your eye, but it can be a sign of a heart set on. Professor Newby says: "If your pain is going down the arm, especially the left arm, or into the neck that makes it more likely to be center-related than indigestion. If it doesn't go abroad, or if you know you have heart illness and accept used your GTN (glyceryl trinitrate) spray two or three times to no discernible effect, you should exist seeking emergency medical advice." Phone call 999 for an ambulance.

7. Jaw or dorsum pain

Professor Newby says: "With heart attacks, information technology can even happen that the hurting is felt in the jaw, or the back. Once again, if it doesn't get abroad, phone call 999 and ask for an ambulance." There is some bear witness that women's symptoms are more probable to vary from 'archetype' chest pain, and we know that women are less likely to seek medical attention and treatment.

8. Choking sensation

Professor Newby says: "The word 'angina' actually means 'choking', and sometimes the tightness or pain tin be up in the throat. People tend to describe a 'restricting' or 'choking' sensation." If the feeling continues, and you haven't previously been diagnosed with heart trouble, you should call NHS 111 – but if you take some of the other signs listed here too, information technology might be safer to phone call an ambulance.

9. Swollen ankles

Professor Newby says: "This shouldn't be ignored, especially if the ankles get really large, as it can be a mark of heart failure, only it is too very mutual and has lots of other causes. It could but equally easily be from tablets you are taking – for example, blood force per unit area medication can pb to swollen ankles."

If y'all're getting swollen ankles, it'due south worth making an appointment with your GP.

10. Extreme fatigue

Feeling tired all the time can be a symptom of heart failure, every bit well equally of other weather condition. Professor Newby says: "Many of my patients tell me they're tired, whether they've got heart failure or not, whether they've got angina or non! It'southward a difficult 1, because it'southward so non-specific."

If you're tired and you've been working long hours or staying upward late, it's probably not your centre – but if yous start experiencing extreme tiredness and your lifestyle hasn't changed, it's a good idea to conversation to your GP.

eleven. Irregular heartbeat

Professor Newby says: "This is a hot topic at the moment, there's a lot of focus on diagnosing irregular heartbeats. I did an audit of the heart monitors we give out to people for investigation and from about 700 people, we constitute only near 20 that had atrial fibrillation [which can increment your chance of stroke]. The vast majority of people just had actress ectopic beats, which are usually harmless.

"I would suggest that a jumped heartbeat is ordinarily benign and nothing to get likewise concerned by. Being enlightened of your own heartbeat is actually quite common and in itself nil to get anxious nigh.

"If your center is going very fast and jumping effectually erratically and so that'due south when you should see your GP. If yous experience like this and so you experience blackouts, call an ambulance."

• Learn more than about how to cheque your pulse.
• Exercise you know the difference between a heart assail and a cardiac arrest? Our animation explains all.

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Source: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/11-signs-you-might-have-heart-disease

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