Cardiovascular issues are most commonly associated with chest pain, but there is a range of atypical symptoms to watch out for. Lightheadedness, dizziness, shortness of breath, and jaw pain can be caused by high blood pressure, blood clots, and arrhythmias. They often go dismissed, causing people to delay urgent, life-saving treatment because these symptoms aren’t so obviously linked to the heart.
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Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, a board-certified cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, said that we tend to worry about chest discomfort, but other symptoms can signal cardiovascular issues. Here are a few warning signs:
Tingling Or Pain In The Legs
A blood clot in the body’s deep veins could cause pain and swell in the calves or lower legs, according to Tadwalkar. Blood flow to the legs can be reduced if the heart has problems pumping blood throughout the body. Tadwalkar said the leg pain could signal a problem with the cardiovascular system, even though it seems far away.
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Nausea Or Decreased Appetite
Heart failure can cause nausea and loss of appetite. As the heart fails, fluid can accumulate in the legs and belly. Fluid filling in the gut decreases the absorption of nutrients, causing people to lose their appetite, according to Dr. Joyce Oen-Hsiao, a Yale School of Medicine cardiologist.
Some patients with blockages in the back arteries of the heart may only experience nausea and an upset stomach. Oen-Hsiao explains that most patients with a heart attack in the back part of the heart will only feel nauseous and sick to their gut rather than chest pain or shortness of breath.