How do you know when to check your heart?

10 Signs It's Time to See a Cardiologist
  1. You experience chest pain.
  2. You have high blood pressure.
  3. You have shortness of breath, palpitations or dizziness.
  4. You have diabetes.
  5. You have a history of smoking.
  6. You have a history of high cholesterol.
  7. You have chronic kidney disease.
  8. You have a family history of heart disease.

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How do I know if I need my heart checked?

But if you have started feeling palpitations, check in with your doctor. Call 911 if you have palpitations or an irregular heartbeat that persists or if you also have any chest pain or pressure, dizziness, or shortness of breath.

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How can I tell if something is wrong with my heart?

Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina) Shortness of breath. Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly area or back. Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms if the blood vessels in those body areas are narrowed.

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What are 3 early warning signs your heart is failing?

Symptoms
  • Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down.
  • Fatigue and weakness.
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet.
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
  • Reduced ability to exercise.
  • Wheezing.
  • A cough that doesn't go away or a cough that brings up white or pink mucus with spots of blood.
  • Swelling of the belly area.

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When should you suspect heart problems?

Lightheadedness or dizziness. Nausea or vomiting. Palpitations (feeling like your heart is beating too fast, too strongly, or irregularly) Shortness of breath.

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How do you know how healthy your heart is?

32 related questions found

What are 3 signs that you have heart disease?

11 signs you might have heart disease
  • Chest pain. It's the classic sign of a heart attack, yet many people don't realise this could be a medical emergency. ...
  • Feeling sick. ...
  • Stomach pain or indigestion. ...
  • Feeling sweaty. ...
  • Leg pain. ...
  • Arm pain. ...
  • Jaw or back pain. ...
  • Choking sensation.

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What are the early stage of heart problem?

Early warning signs of heart disease include: Chest pain. Shortness of breath. Swelling in your legs.

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What are 4 signs your heart is in trouble?

Four Signs of a Silent Heart Attack
  • Chest Pain, Pressure, Fullness, or Discomfort. ...
  • Discomfort in other areas of your body. ...
  • Difficulty breathing and dizziness. ...
  • Nausea and cold sweats. ...
  • Know The Silent Signs of a Heart Attack — And Don't Ignore Them.

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How can I check my heart health at home?

Place your index and middle finger of your hand on the inner wrist of the other arm, just below the base of the thumb. You should feel a tapping or pulsing against your fingers. Count the number of taps you feel in 10 seconds. Multiply that number by 6 to find out your heart rate for 1 minute.

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What does a heart blockage feel like?

The symptoms of an artery blockage include chest pain and tightness, and shortness of breath. Imagine driving through a tunnel.

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How do doctors check if your heart is OK?

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. The ECG reflects what's happening in different areas of the heart and helps identify any problems with the rhythm or rate of your heart.

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Can you have heart damage and not know it?

People often don't know they've had a silent heart attack until weeks or months later when a healthcare provider finds heart damage.

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How can doctors tell if your heart is failing?

Get to your doctor. You may have trouble breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swollen legs, neck veins that stick out, and sounds from fluid built up in your lungs. Your doctor will check for these and other signs of heart failure. A test called an echocardiogram is often the best test to diagnose your heart failure.

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Can you tell if your heart is healthy?

Indicators of a Healthy Heart. Heart Rate – For most adults, a normal resting heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Physical activity and exercise increase your heart rate while stress, activity, anxiety levels, and medication can also affect your resting heart rate.

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Can an ECG detect a blocked artery?

A health care provider might use an electrocardiogram to determine or detect: Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) If blocked or narrowed arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease) are causing chest pain or a heart attack.

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Can you have mini heart attacks?

You can have a mild heart attack and may not even be aware that it's happening. There are two types of “minor” heart attacks: Non-ST Elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

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What are small heart attacks?

In a “mini” heart attack, blood flow to the heart is partially blocked. Symptoms include chest pain and are similar to those of a heart attack, but there is less damage to the heart. The technical term for a “mini” heart attack is a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

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What are the ten sneaky signs of heart disease?

Sneaky Signs of Heart Disease
  • Dizziness.
  • Changes in skin color (blue or gray tinge)
  • Struggling to catch your breath while doing things that used to be easy or struggling to breathe while lying down.
  • Swelling in your legs, feet or ankles.
  • Fatigue.
  • Coughing and wheezing.
  • Rapid weight gain.
  • Rapid heartbeat.

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What age does heart failure start?

Heart failure can happen at any age. It happens to both men and women, but men often develop it at a younger age than women. Your chance of developing heart failure increases if: You're 65 years old or older.

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At what age do heart problems start?

Your risk for heart disease increases with age, especially with people of color and for those who are over 65. While the average age for a heart attack is 64.5 for men, and 70.3 for women, nearly 20% of those who die of heart disease are under the age of 65.

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At what age are heart problems most common?

Adults age 65 and older are more likely than younger people to suffer from cardiovascular disease, which is problems with the heart, blood vessels, or both.

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Do you sleep a lot with heart failure?

If you wake up feeling not refreshed, you have daytime sleepiness or if you need to curtail your daytime activity because of lack of energy, these could be signs your heart failure isn't being managed as well as it could be, Dr. Freeman says.

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What is the number one indicator of heart disease?

High blood pressure.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. It is a medical condition that happens when the pressure of the blood in your arteries and other blood vessels is too high.

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Can a blood test show heart problems?

The most common types of blood tests used to assess heart conditions are: Cardiac enzyme tests (including troponin tests) – help diagnose or rule out a heart attack. Full blood count (FBC) – measures different types of blood levels and can show, for example, if there is an infection or if you have anaemia.

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What does heart failure feel like in a woman?

It can make you feel run down, wheezy, and swollen with fluids. It's a lifelong condition, but it can be treated and managed with the help of your doctor. About 3 million women in the U.S. have it. Some 455,000 more join the ranks each year, and that number is on the rise.

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