Understanding the early signs of cardiovascular issues will better equip you to act. To identify these warning signs, you need to be aware of your body’s cues.
By understanding early signs of cardiovascular issues, you can better decide when to seek medical treatment or change your diet and activity levels.
This post outlines some of the most important tips to look out for to help you identify early cardiovascular signs — quickly and confidently.
1. Monitor blood pressure regularly
Regularly monitoring blood pressure is a simple, proactive step in identifying early signs of cardiovascular deterioration. At home, blood pressure measurement can uncover atypical spikes or drops that may not be evident during a clinical visit.
The most accurate way to monitor at home is by using a digital monitor that’s properly fitted on the upper arm. For the most accurate results, take your readings at the same time each day. Make sure you sit quietly for at least five minutes first.
It’s a good idea to avoid smoking, caffeine, or vigorous exercise for 30 minutes before testing. Knowing what a normal blood pressure range looks like is important. According to the American Heart Association, you should use a cuff-style monitor, with normal blood pressure readings usually being less than 120/80 mm Hg.
If your numbers are consistently higher than this, or you suddenly get readings of 180/120 mm Hg or higher, call a healthcare professional right away. Regular recordings allow you to monitor your blood pressure over time.
Fortunately, even modest lifestyle changes—including weight loss of 3% to 5%—could have a big impact on your triglycerides.
2. Watch for unexplained fatigue
Unexplained fatigue is sometimes an early sign of heart problems. Monitor your energy levels each day to determine if the tiredness that you feel is ongoing or out of the ordinary.
Watch for changes in how much you can do before getting tired, or if you notice fatigue when doing daily activities.
By understanding fatigue as a crucial first alert and listening to the signs—especially for women—we can improve outcomes for all patients.
An extreme level of exhaustion, which can last for days, could be a sign of heart disease. Adults should strive for 7 to 9 hours of sleep to avoid developing harmful cardiovascular conditions.
Journaling these experiences can help drive meaningful conversations with medical professionals.
Regular exercise, just 30 minutes a day on most days, can both help alleviate fatigue and protect against heart disease. Unexplained fatigue should always be taken seriously. Talking to a doctor is key to catching this condition early and getting the treatment you need.
3. Notice shortness of breath
Recognizing shortness of breath can be a key indicator of heart problems. Paying attention to your breathing when doing things such as walking or going up stairs can help identify anything abnormal. Notice shortness of breath.
If breathing doesn’t feel right even when at rest, this could indicate more serious issues. If you develop shortness of breath when lying flat or at night, that can be an indication of heart disease.
Conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure frequently result in these distressing signs.
When shortness of breath is getting worse or happening often, it’s time to seek medical attention. It can be a signal of an impending heart attack or other serious problems.
4. Pay attention to chest discomfort
Start listening to chest discomfort, because it is often the first warning sign of cardiovascular problems. No matter what kind of pain—from a dull ache to a stabbing pain—should NOT be ignored.
If this discomfort radiates to your arms, neck, or back, it may be a warning sign of something worse. It’s important to pay attention to when these pains arise, particularly if you experience them while exerting yourself physically or when you’re emotionally stressed.
Chest pain that lasts more than five minutes, even at rest or with nitroglycerin, requires urgent attention. The CDC reminds us that 1 in 5 heart attacks are silent, so don’t ignore persistent pain.
If your chest discomfort lasts more than a few minutes, get emergency help right away by calling 911. Keep in mind that chest discomfort is not always a stabbing pain.
Most importantly, don’t drive yourself to the hospital—get help right away.
5. Recognize swelling in legs or ankles
Knowing how to identify swelling in legs or ankles can make all the difference.
Pay attention to any visible swelling, particularly when you get up after sitting for a long time. This type of swelling could be associated with weight gain or pain, suggesting more serious conditions.
Edema — swelling often indicates an issue with circulation or the heart, such as heart failure or coronary artery disease. It’s important to recognize because as many as 1 in 5 people with heart failure live with it. This swelling could be a sign of fluid accumulation.
It could be due to acute conditions such as a blood clot or diseases of the kidney or liver. Documenting these events offers critical insight for medical professionals. If there is a family history of heart disease, it is prudent to seek medical attention.
6. Track changes in heart rate
Monitoring changes in your heart rate can provide important information about your cardiovascular health. Tracking changes in heart rate using a heart rate monitor is one of the easiest ways to identify significant spikes or drops in your heartbeat.
It can be useful in catching palpitations or irregular beats while doing normal everyday activities. A higher heart rate tends to indicate stress or heart disease.
During sleep, your resting heart rate usually falls below 60 bpm. Exercise, for example, can bring your resting heart rate up above 100 bpm, and when you’re under stress or sick, you might see it spike to 120 bpm.
Most healthy adults hover around 55-85 bpm, with the range of 60-100 bpm being considered normal for adults after adolescence. Tachycardia is when the heart beats greater than 100 bpm and bradycardia is less than 60 bpm.
Your age may play a role in these rates. Keeping a log of changes is important and very helpful for conversations with a cardiologist.
7. Be aware of persistent cough
In addition to awareness of a persistent cough, awareness of one’s own body is very important. Watch out for a cough that lasts longer than normal or brings up abnormal mucus. This symptom could be a sign of fluid accumulation in the lungs, commonly associated with cardiac conditions such as pulmonary edema.
Be alert to increases in cough severity or frequency, particularly with exertion. When coughing doesn’t get better or gets worse, consider seeking a medical evaluation. A chronic cough can be an early indicator of cardiac cough or cor pulmonale.
Many people who have congestive heart failure (CHF) are afflicted by chronic cough. Related signs can be wheezing, shortness of breath, and severe fatigue with little exertion. If you’re experiencing a chronic cough with chest discomfort or rapid weight gain, don’t delay!
Get medical attention right away. Recognizing these symptoms and having an honest conversation about them with a healthcare provider is important.
8. Dizziness or lightheadedness
Monitor dizziness/lightheadedness, particularly when standing up rapidly, as this could indicate cardiovascular problems.
It’s important to track the number of episodes of syncope or presyncope on exertion. These symptoms can indicate inadequate blood flow or cardiac ischemia.
Dizziness is associated with cardiovascular disease, including causations like arrhythmias and dilated cardiomyopathy. Common heart problems that cause dizziness include irregular heart rhythms and heart valve problems, including mitral valve prolapse.
Dehydration and side effects from medications may cause dizziness as well. It’s important to rule out underlying heart conditions, especially if you have a family history of heart disease.
If dizziness occurs often, it’s important to schedule an appointment with a doctor or healthcare professional to determine the cause.
9. Observe skin color changes
Recognizing subtle changes in skin color can be an indicator of serious underlying health issues. Recognizing new or worsening pallor or cyanosis, particularly on the lips and fingertips, is crucial. Such changes typically indicate problems with circulation or oxygenation.
For example, livedo reticularis creates a lace-like pattern of red and blue spots on the skin, which may be associated with atherosclerosis. Diabetic dermopathy, with its light brown, scaly patches, is prevalent in people who have type 2 diabetes.
Skin changes may indicate peripheral vascular disease, which can impact nearly one in five Americans older than 60. If you notice other symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath, this is an even stronger signal that you may have heart disease.
Vasculitis is something to watch out for. It leads to inflammation of blood vessels, leading to discoloration and other symptoms including fever and joint pain.
Talking about any sudden new changes to a doctor or dermatologist will help make sure they are thoroughly evaluated.
10. Keep an eye on family history
Monitoring your family history will give you a better handle on your own risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Begin with a detailed family history, with attention to first-degree relatives who have had an event, providing an unobscured look at possible inherited danger.
Talking through this list with a trusted healthcare provider will allow for a more complete analysis of personal risk, informing customized approaches to health. Our genetics plays a huge role in our susceptibility to heart disease.
Knowing your family history is key to reducing your risk of heart attack and stroke. Cardiologist Christine Jellis, MD, PhD, highlights this crucial first step. You are at higher risk with more affected family members or early onset in them.
Although family history is something you can’t change, knowing your risk and taking preventive steps is important. Stop smoking to significantly reduce your risk of having a heart attack within a year.
Take part in at least five days a week of at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity to continue to lower heart disease risk. If lifestyle interventions are insufficient, refer for consideration of bariatric surgery for those with a BMI of 40 or greater.
Stay Ahead of Your Health: Learn How to Spot Early Cardiovascular Signs
Being able to recognize early signs of cardiovascular disease keeps you proactive and allows you to prevent developing further health complications.
Regular monitoring of your blood pressure helps you stay on top of your heart health.
By remaining cognizant of these signs, you can take quick action to prevent them, potentially avoiding serious repercussions. Our mission is centered around helping you stay healthy, being proactive about your health, and protecting your future health.
Share what you learn with your friends and family to help spread awareness. As always, knowledge is your best weapon in the battle for a healthy heart.
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