| p>Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the | | | | 5. Nausea |
| United States. The term is actually an umbrella term | | | | Nausea can be caused by a large number of factors, |
| that refers to a number of various diseases affecting | | | | one of which is heart problems. We have all |
| the heart. The most common forms include coronary | | | | experienced the feeling of nausea before. Usually, |
| artery disease, heart attack, arrhythmias, arterial | | | | nausea is caused by easily-explainable factors such |
| fibrillation, and heart valve disease. | | | | as having eaten the wrong food or having the flu. |
| Here are 5 common heart disease signs and | | | | However, if nausea persists for extended periods of |
| symptoms: | | | | time without obvious causes, this could be the sign of |
| 1. Shortness of breath | | | | real problems. |
| If you find yourself breathing heavily for no obvious | | | | If you are exhibiting any of the symptoms described |
| reason, you may have cause for concern. Similarly, if | | | | above or are otherwise concerned about the |
| you notice yourself having to catch your breath after | | | | possibility that you may have issues with your heart or |
| going up or down a few steps, lifting light objects, or | | | | cardiovascular system, see your doctor right away. |
| walking short distances, you may have a problem with | | | | Important note: it is a common misconception that only |
| shortness of breath. | | | | people exhibiting one or more of these common |
| 2. Heart palpitations | | | | symptoms of heart disease should be concerned |
| Heart palpitations are defined as an awareness of the | | | | about actually having a issues. To the contrary, many |
| abnormal beating of the heart. This abnormality may | | | | of the types of diseases related to the heart |
| involve the heart beating too slowly, too fast, irregularly, | | | | mentioned above can be present in one's body without |
| or even at its normal frequency. The beating of one's | | | | the existence of any noticeable signs, until it is often |
| heart should largely be a completely unconscious act. | | | | too late. |
| Therefore, if you find yourself often focusing on the | | | | If you are lacking the common tell-tale symptoms - |
| beating of your heart on a regular basis, you may be | | | | some of which are listed above - you may still be at |
| experiencing heart palpitations. | | | | elevated risk for having such a disease. In addition, |
| 3. A faster heartbeat | | | | recent advances in medical screening mean that adults |
| If you experience a faster-than-normal heartbeat (also | | | | can now receive ABI and ASI testing to detect for |
| called tachyarrhythmia), this may be the sign of serious | | | | important heart-related conditions such as peripheral |
| medical issues related to the heart. Fast heartbeats | | | | artery disease (PAD) and arterial stiffness. |
| are caused by increased input from the sympathetic | | | | I recommend ABI and ASI screening at least once per |
| nervous system, and this can be an indication that the | | | | year. Make sure that your screening provider employs |
| body is responding to stress somewhere else in the | | | | the latest in FDA approved medical screening devices, |
| body - such as to a tightness in the arteries. | | | | that all results are reviewed by board-certified MDs |
| 4. Weakness or dizziness | | | | and that all the information and readouts are provided |
| Frequently finding yourself feeling week or dizzy | | | | back to you in their results packet. Do accept from |
| without any obvious cause could also be a symptom | | | | your screening provider just receiving results that say |
| of disease of the heart. For example, these symptoms | | | | 'normal' or 'abnormal.' When you get your results, take |
| may occur when you are just sitting down, but they | | | | them to your physician. You will be providing him/her |
| are more likely to occur when you are standing up and | | | | with helpful information they typically do not have |
| or are in motion. | | | | because of insurance restrictions. |