Heart disease symptoms you might not expect

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and around the world. But not all heart disease shows up with the typical chest pain we associate with serious cardiac conditions, and many people experience different symptoms than you’d expect. 

Heart disease specialists from HCA Florida Healthcare address subtle cardiac symptoms. Learn more about what to look out for — and why prevention is the best medicine. 

Cardiovascular symptoms can’t wait. Schedule an appointment with a cardiologist today. 

Subtle symptoms you shouldn’t ignore 

When most people imagine someone experiencing a heart attack, the classic feature is unrelenting, severe chest pain in the center or left side of the chest. This pain might radiate to the arms, back or neck and cause extreme discomfort. 

Chest pain tends to be the more dramatic symptom of cardiac disease, which is why it tends to be the one we think of when it comes to heart attacks. Early stages of heart and vascular disease don’t often have symptoms, but more advanced heart and vascular disease may bring classic symptoms like:

• Chest pain, whether sudden or with exertion
• Nonhealing wound on feet
• Pain in the legs when walking

However, 25% of heart attacks are completely silent, or come with less common symptoms such as:

• Abdominal pain
• Back pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating

“There is a wide array of symptoms for an individual having a heart attack ranging from asymptomatic to severe,” says Gregory von Mering, MD, interventional cardiologist at HCA Florida Healthcare. “And the variation of these symptoms is more common in certain groups. A diabetic might not have chest pain but might come to the ED with nausea, sweating and intense fatigue. Women often present with back or shoulder pain, sweating, shortness of breath and abdominal discomfort.”

Don’t hesitate to seek care for heart disease 

If you experience any of the advanced disease symptoms, especially suddenly, head to the emergency room right away.

“If you’re worried by a symptom that occurs suddenly or concerned by something that is out of the ordinary, seek attention immediately, especially if you know your risk factors,” says Dr. von Mering. “Be aware of how you’re feeling and don’t minimize.”

Prevention is key — don’t wait until you have symptoms of heart disease to talk with your doctor. By then, the condition could have advanced. Instead, talk with your doctor now about prevention and understanding your numbers and risk factors, like:

• Blood sugar
• Cholesterol
• Family history
• Tobacco use

Atherosclerosis can begin even in adolescence with fatty deposits in the arteries that continue to grow in your 20s and 30s. Heart disease doesn’t usually present symptoms this early, but this is the time to address risk factors.

“Early intervention is prevention,” says Dr. von Mering. “What we can do for patients with cardiovascular events today is fantastic, but we can’t give a person back their heart muscle or brain tissue that’s been lost. It’s so important not to ignore how you’re feeling or your risk factors. We can improve symptoms and life expectancy but what we can do long before that by improving your risk factors is much greater by giving you a healthy life filled with enjoyment.”

Know (and control) your risk factors 

While understanding the different heart disease symptoms can be lifesaving, preventing heart disease in the first place is even more crucial. That includes knowing your risk factors — including things you can change and those you can’t.

“We can’t change our family history, and if parents, siblings or grandparents have or had coronary artery disease, stroke or heart attacks, that means you’re at risk as well,” says Dr. von Mering. “However, there are things we can control. For example, tobacco exposure is the most important modifiable risk factor. Universally, it’s a major cause of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease and death. No one should smoke or use tobacco products whatsoever.”

Managing chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) can also keep heart disease risk in check — especially if you have a family history. That’s because when you combine these risk factors, they magnify your heart disease risk greater than any one factor alone, even earlier in life. 

While you should speak with your care team about ways to control your individual risk factors, you can improve your heart health by:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Staying physically active — which can also help you recognize if you have heart disease symptoms faster

“When patients have multiple risk factors, it is easy to make the assumption that you may get the diseases and therefore treat your risk factors aggressively,” says Dr. von Mering. “Diagnosing disease early & knowing your risk factors and underlying conditions are the key to a long life.”

Find personalized cardiovascular care for your needs. Call (833) 544-5031 or visit our website to schedule an appointment with an HCA Florida Healthcare cardiologist today.