Sleep apnea
When your snoring is broken up by pauses
in your breathing, your brain may not be getting enough oxygen. It will
send signals to your blood vessels and heart to work harder to keep
blood flow going. This raises your risk for high blood pressure,
abnormal heart rhythms, strokes, and heart failure. Fortunately, sleep
apnea is treatable.
Yellow-orange bumpy rash
Extremely high triglyceride levels can
make your skin break out around the knuckles of your fingers and toes
and on your bottom. A lot of these fats in your blood may play a role in
hardening your arteries, and high numbers are often related to other
conditions that put you at risk for heart disease and strokes, too.
Poor grip strength
The strength of your hand may tell you
something about the strength of your heart. Research suggests the
ability to squeeze something well means a lower risk of heart disease.
If it’s hard for you to grasp an object, odds are higher that you have
or could develop problems. (But improving your grip strength alone won’t
necessarily make your heart healthier.)
Dark spot under nails
If you haven’t banged or hurt your
finger or toe recently, little dots of blood trapped under your nail
could point to an infection in the lining of your heart or valves,
called endocarditis. You can also get these blood specks when you have
diabetes, and people with that condition are two to four times more
likely to have heart disease and strokes.
Dizziness
Lightheadedness is often a direct result
of something wrong with your heart because it isn’t pumping enough
blood to your brain. Dizziness could be a symptom of an abnormal rhythm,
called an arrhythmia. Heart failure, meaning the weakening of the
muscle, can also make you unsteady. Feeling woozy is one of the many
lesser-known symptoms of a heart attack, too.
Sexual Problems
Some troubles in the bedroom could mean
you have heart disease and a greater risk for a heart attack or stroke.
Men with erectile dysfunction may have circulation problems related to
high blood pressure or narrow arteries from cholesterol buildup. These
blood-flow problems can also lessen a woman’s libido and ability to
enjoy sex.
Skin color changes
Blue or gray fingers and toes could be
from poor circulation of oxygen-rich blood, often due to a heart defect
you were born with or narrowed or blocked blood vessels. A lacy,
mottled, purple pattern shows up when bits of built-up cholesterol
plaques break off, then get stuck in small blood vessels. You might get
bloody splotches just under the skin on the inside of your hands and the
soles of your feet when you have endocarditis.
Bleeding gums
Experts don’t totally understand the
link between gum disease and heart disease. But studies suggest that
bleeding, swollen, or tender gums may lead to trouble with your ticker.
One theory is that bacteria from your gums gets into your bloodstream
and sets off inflammation in your heart. Having gum disease, which can
lead to tooth loss, may also raise your chances of a stroke.
Dark, velvety skin patches
You may find these thick spots, called
acanthosis nigricans, in skin folds and creases such as your neck,
armpits, and groin when your body has trouble using the hormone insulin.
The patches could have skin tags, too. If you aren’t being treated for
insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or type 2 diabetes, see your
doctor for help controlling your blood sugar and protecting your heart.
Trouble breathing
Feeling short of breath can be a symptom
of heart failure, an abnormal heart rhythm, or a heart attack. Tell
your doctor if you struggle to catch your breath after doing things that
used to be easy for you, or if it’s hard to breathe while lying down.
Have chest pain, too? Call emergency.
Swelling in lower legs
It happens when you stand or sit for a
long time, and it’s also common during pregnancy. Fluid build-up can
also stem from heart failure and poor circulation in your legs. Swollen
legs could be from a clot that’s blocking the return of blood from your
lower limbs to your heart. Call your doctor right away if swelling comes
on suddenly.
Fatigue
Don’t always chalk up it up to poor
sleep. Heart failure can leave you tired and drained, because the muscle
no longer pumps well enough to meet your body’s needs. Watch for other
symptoms, such as coughing and swelling, too, since feeling wiped out
and weak can be a warning sign of many different conditions, including
anemia, cancer, or even depression.
Courtesy WebMD
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