HEALTH & WELLNESS
When to see a physician
HEALTHY LIVING TIPS FROM
It’s not always obvious when you have a
serious condition. Heart disease, like high
blood pressure, usually has no symptoms
— and many people don’t know they have
it. Many other symptoms of heart disease
can be similar to those of other conditions,
or you may chalk them up to a busy life-
style or a stressful job.
Did you know that if you have high untreated blood pressure,
your heart has to work harder than normal to meet your body’s
demands? Over time, this puts you at increased risk of heart at-
tack, stroke, heart failure and even kidney disease.
With health risks in mind, here are five symptoms that should
send you to your doctor or cardiologist:
1. You’re tired. Many of us are tired thanks to overloaded lives,
but if you feel sluggish even when you’ve had enough rest,
your heart may be to blame. If you wake up tired and your
partner says you snore, you may have sleep apnea, which
— if left untreated — increases your chance of high blood
pressure, heart damage, abnormal heart rhythms, heart fail-
ure and stroke.
2. You’re short of breath. If activities that you used to do with-
out a problem now cause you to be short of breath, don’t
ignore it. Don’t just assume you’re out of shape or tired —
being short of breath can be a symptom of heart failure.
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Sudden onset breathlessness can also be
related to a heart attack, so if you can’t
catch your breath and have accompanying
chest pain, call 911!
3. You’re dizzy. It’s not uncommon to
have a quick bout of dizziness when you
stand up from a seated position too quickly
or don’t eat or drink enough. But feeling dizzy can be related
to your blood pressure or an abnormal heart rhythm. It can
also be a symptom of a heart attack, so don’t ignore it.
4. Your legs or ankles are swollen. If your heart isn’t pumping
effectively, it can lead to poor circulation in your extremities,
especially your legs. Swollen feet or ankles can be a symp-
tom of heart failure, and pain in your lower legs can indicate
a dangerous blood clot.
5. You have pain in your upper body. Not all heart attacks are
accompanied by sudden and severe chest pain; instead, you
may notice discomfort in your arm, jaw or back, especially if
you’re a woman. So if you have pain that you can’t attribute
to another cause — or if you also have symptoms such as
fatigue, dizziness or sweating — get medical help! d
For an appointment with a Deborah specialist or more informa-
tion about how Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s leading-edge
technologies can improve your quality of life, call 800-555-1990
or request info or an appointment at www.demanddeborah.org.