Your Trusted Cardiologist In NYC

4 of the Most Common Indicators of Heart Disease

Heart disease is quite a serious complication that can be potentially life threatening. If left untreated, it almost certainly causes death, but if detected early, patients can receive proper medical care and live long lives. Detection, however, is not as straight forward as many people imagine.

Short of a hospital visit and having the necessary tests run, you may not know if you have a heart complication or if you are at risk of developing it. There are some common symptoms which, though not automatic indicators, may generally mean that some form of heart disease exists.

Common Indicators of Heart Disease

The following four symptoms are some of the most common among persons suffering from heart disease.

• Fatigue, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting(syncope), or near fainting
• Chest pains
• Swelling or pain in the legs and abdomen, and coldness in the arms, legs, or the narrowed parts of the body.
• Irregular heartbeats, heart palpitations, racing heart (tachycardia), or a slow heartbeat(bradycardia)

Other symptoms that may indicate heart disease but are not as common may include:

• Male pattern baldness at an early age
• Yellow bumps or flat, wide plaques on the skin and around the elbows, buttocks, feet, hands, and knees
• Gum disease

Risk Groups

Heart disease presents in people of all ages, races, social demographics, upbringing, and so on. There is, however, a higher likelihood of occurrence among people who lie in the following categories.

• Middle aged persons and the elderly
• People who don’t exercise regularly and/or engage in unhealthy eating habits
• Persons suffering from obesity, or who are over-weight
• Persons suffering from diabetes
• Persons who have registered levels of high cholesterol and high triglycerides
• Smokers
• Sufferers of sleep apnea and anemia
• People with a history of heart disease in their family history
• Women who have suffered from preeclampsia during pregnancy
• People who are stressed, suffering from depression, or broken heart symptom (especially post-menopausal women and older males)

In any case, if you display any of these symptoms, or fit into one or more of the above high-risk groups, you should visit a cardiologist and have the necessary tests done in order to find out about your heart condition.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at 888.474.9351.