Warning signs you should know that your heart is not working properly

Heart problems are the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2011, heart disease caused more than 787,000 deaths
Nearly one in four Americans have died of heart disease. CardioSmart 2 years ago reported
The Heart Foundation states that “cardiovascular disease kills more than all forms of cancer combined.”
The site also noted that someone dies from a heart-related disease every minute in the United States, where more than $320 billion is spent annually on treating heart disease.
Having multiple symptoms — such as persistent coughing and chest pain — may indicate that you have heart disease or that a heart attack is imminent.
If you experience a combination of any of the symptoms listed, it is important that you or your caregiver call a health professional to get the help you need.

1- Shoulder pain and sleep

Chest pain, especially on the left side near the heart, is a sign of a possible impending heart attack. The cause of the pain is the death of heart muscle cells.
The narrowing of the heart can sometimes be so painful that the pain can make its way to the upper torso, especially the shoulder area. This is called angina pectoris, which is related to pain directly related to the irregular and intermittent flow of blood to the heart. Severe pain in the shoulder does not usually indicate a heart problem, but a slow, gradual build-up of pain in the shoulder area may be indicative of unhealthy heart problems.
2. Snoring and sleep problems
Snoring and sleep problems such as insomnia and sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing disturbances occur during sleep, are directly related to heart disease and other cardiovascular problems.
Episodes of sleep apnea, which can cause sleepers to wake up gasping for air, cause inconsistent sleep patterns that can be heart-wrenching. The American Heart Association said that sleep apnea “prevents restful sleep and is associated with high blood pressure, arrhythmias, stroke, and heart failure.”
Sleep apnea or recently developed snoring problems can indicate a heart defect.
There is also a disorder called obstructive sleep apnea
Which is directly related to overweight and obesity, two major factors in heart disease. It occurs when “weight on the upper chest and neck obstructs airflow,” causing disturbing sleep patterns. Once sleep apnea was treated and/or corrected, doctors noticed a drop in patients’ blood pressure.

3- Irregular heartbeat
An irregular heartbeat is formally known as an arrhythmia, which means that your heart is not pumping blood in its normal rhythm. Although you may be relatively healthy and still have an arrhythmia, it is also an indication of heart failure or Imminent heart attack. The Heart Rhythm Association said:
“High blood pressure and coronary artery disease (blockage in the heart tubes) are the main causes of vascular disorders” such as an irregular heartbeat.
Arrhythmia is caused by a disruption of the electrical system that controls the heart.
There are many types of arrhythmias, some of which indicate heart failure. They include:
Atrial fibrillation: The heartbeat is much faster than normal, sometimes up to four times and pumping 300 times per minute.
Atrial flutter: Similar to atrial fibrillation, but the heartbeat is more regular. It also causes a rapid heartbeat and is a major cause of strokes.
Early ventricular contractions: These contractions are also known as a skipped heartbeat. It is a sign of heart disease
As mentioned earlier, an irregular or dizzy heart rate can be a symptom of your heart’s age. Again, the heart is a muscular organ and begins to weaken as we get older, so a low heart rate can occur (although this is also something you need to address with your doctor)

4- Inflammation of the gums and jaw, problems in the mouth
You may be wondering, how could gingivitis mean there is a problem with my heart? It’s not accurate to say if you have a gum disease like gingivitis, you definitely have a heart problem. But doctors have discovered that gum disease and heart disease are linked.
“Your gums are hypervascular, which means they are full of blood vessels, and your mouth is full of bacteria,” said Dr. Thomas Boyden, Jr. “If you disrupt the gum layer a little bit, you’ll get bacteria in your bloodstream, which can go anywhere and cause inflammation throughout the body.” Having open wounds and infected parts of the mouth makes things bad for your heart to flow straight into, affecting the overall health of the heart.
Pain traveling from the heart to the jaw area is a common sign of a heart attack, especially in women. Jaw pain alone is not a strong symptom of a heart attack, but rather a problem with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). When jaw pain is combined with chest pain or other symptoms on the list, that’s when it becomes a concern.
. 5- Swollen legs and feet

Swollen legs and feet can be a sign of heart failure. You may notice that your lower extremities become more swollen when you lift your shoes and/or pants at the end of the day. “You are more likely to notice swelling in the legs and ankles later in the day because gravity increases the amount and pressure of blood in the veins of the lower extremities,” she says.
A website dedicated to heart failure states that pain in the chest and trunk, swelling of the legs and feet causes improper flow of blood to the heart. Since the blood does not flow as it should, the blood also does not flow properly either. This causes the blood to clot or your heart completely stops working

6- Shortness of breath and fatigue
The American Heart Association said shortness of breath is an indicator of heart failure. Conditions that indicate shortness of breath include:
Shortness of breath during activity (most common), at rest, or while sleeping, which may come on suddenly and wake you up.
You find it difficult to breathe while lying down.
You wake up feeling tired or restless after sleeping through the night.
The blood vessels can back up due to an unhealthy heart, and start spreading to places they shouldn’t be, such as the lungs. This causes shortness of breath.

7- Feeling dizzy or dizzy
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded — or even fainting — can be a sign that blood flow to the brain is restricted, and it’s a major cause of strokes and heart attacks. Dizziness and fainting can also be caused by low blood pressure. One site noted that “vertigo, especially when standing up too quickly, is a very common symptom for people with heart failure.”

8- Persistent cough
A persistent cough is not always a sign that your heart has a problem, as it is a common symptom of many common illnesses such as cold, flu, and bronchitis. A cough that doesn’t stop could be a sign of fluid buildup in your lungs, which is an indication of congestive heart failure.
“When the heart cannot pump efficiently, blood can return to the veins that carry blood through the lungs,” a government health website said. “As the pressure in these blood vessels increases, the fluid is pushed into the air spaces (alveoli) in the lungs.” Coughing results from irritation and fluid in the lungs, which is similar to what can give you shortness of breath. .
9- Cold sweats
Don’t think just because you sweat means you’re going to have a heart attack. Sweating is a normal, healthy function that the body goes through to cool itself. Sweating, especially cold sweats, may be a sign of a problem with your heart when you are not doing any physical activity, especially when there is chest pain associated with it. Sweat may come from your body in an attempt to calm the inflammation around the heart.
What preventive measures can I take?
It’s never too late to take control of your body and try to turn your heart into healthy ways. Although there are often suggestions for young adults on how to live a healthy lifestyle going forward, many of these recommendations work well for older adults. They include:
Quit Smoking .
Consider medication to help control blood pressure.
Follow a proper diet.
Increase physical activity, which helps maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce alcohol consumption.
These measures are offered (and should be taken) regardless of your age. Medications can start kicking in almost immediately and help your heart at an older age. All of these suggestions can help reduce your risk of developing diabetes, too.
Circulation, a journal dedicated to heart health, refers to statin therapy, which primarily takes medications to help lower cholesterol levels. It was often believed that this operation did not work. However, the journal noted, “statin therapy to lower cholesterol has been shown to reduce mortality even if started over 80 years of age, and in these individuals, lipid levels similar to those in younger subjects are targeted.”

 Explore link https://www.nia.nih.gov