6 Early Signs of Heart Diseases You’ve Probably Ignored

Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body. Day in and day out, behind the scenes, this fist-sized machine pumps blood into your veins and maintains a steady rhythm to keep you alive. It is known that severe chest pain is usually a sign of a heart attack. But some types of cardiovascular disease have much more subtle symptoms. Here are the 8 early signs of heart disease you’ve probably ignored.

1. You have swollen extremities

Swelling extremities, also known as edema, may indicate a problem with your cardiovascular system. Prolonged swelling of the feet and hands is a sign that blood is not pumping properly into the body. Talk to your doctor if you notice any parts of your body have been swollen for no apparent reason.

2. You can't catch your breath

While it's perfectly normal to occasionally be out of breath, feeling like you've been struggling to catch your breath is not. If suddenly walking up the stairs becomes harder than before for you, be cautious, it could be a sign of a heart problem.

3. You're having difficulty in sleeping

Insomnia isn't just a risk factor for heart disease—it can also be a symptom as well. According to the American College of Cardiology, "There is growing evidence of a potential link between insomnia and hypertension, cardiovascular events, and death.

4. You’re experiencing Jaw pain

If you have a heart attack, your jaw can hurt because the nerves that attach to it are close to the nerves that come out of your heart. If the pain persists, you may have a dental problem; if it pops intermittently and gets worse when you push, it's more likely to be heart related.

5. You feel like you're having a panic attack

When you feel like you’re having an unfounded panic attack with typical symptoms such as sudden shortness of breath, chest tightness, sweating, fast heartbeat, dizziness and weakness it may not be exactly a panic attack - but it is may be symptoms of a heart attack.

6. You sweat excessively

A study in 2005 showed that excessive sweating may signal a heart attack if you're not exercising or are particularly active.