Getting unusually out of breath doing what once came easily, a heavy chest on the stairs or palpitations after light effort can be important signs of heart disease, Dr Sharadindu Shekhar Roy writes in an article in Prothom Alo.
He explains that fat and cholesterol slowly build up in the heart's arteries and narrow them. At first the body copes, so there may be no clear symptoms. But when the heart needs more oxygen during exertion, not enough blood gets through the narrowed arteries, and chest pressure, breathlessness or unusual tiredness follow. Sometimes the fatty lining of an artery suddenly cracks and a clot forms, which can cause a sudden heart attack.
His example: someone who could walk for 30 minutes and now has to stop after 10 to 15, or who once climbed several flights of stairs and now feels a heavy chest after one or two, should look for the cause before assuming it is simply age.
The signs he asks readers to watch for are chest pressure or discomfort when walking or climbing stairs, unusual breathlessness on light effort, a drop in the ability to work, unexplained tiredness or weakness, dizziness, swelling of the feet or ankles, and difficulty breathing when lying down.
He adds that not every one of these symptoms comes from the heart. Lung disease, anaemia, thyroid problems, obesity or anxiety can cause similar complaints, and a doctor's advice is the way to find the real cause.
The risk is higher for people with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a smoking habit or excess weight, and for those with a family history of heart disease at a young age. Symptoms can be less obvious in people with diabetes, so those at risk should take even mild symptoms seriously, he advises.
Diagnosis starts with a detailed history and physical examination: what the problem is, when it happens, how long it lasts, whether it is linked to exertion and whether rest eases it. Tests such as an ECG and an echocardiogram follow as needed.
The article gives the doctor's own view and advice; anyone with these symptoms should speak to their own doctor.
Source: Prothom Alo
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