Heart Disease Warning Signs & Risk Factors: Detect Early to Survive

By Cade Shadowlight

Early detection is your best weapon against any disease. Catch a health threat sooner, and you gain time to fight it, potentially reducing damage or stopping it cold. Heart and cardiovascular diseases vary, but they often share these risk factors and warning signs. Know them to stay ahead in a world where medical help may not always be available.Risk Factors for Heart & Cardiovascular Disease

• Family history of heart disease (blood relative affected)
• Sedentary lifestyle (minimal exercise; "couch potato" habits)
• Chronic stress over extended periods
• Overweight or obese
• Unhealthy diet (heavy on fast food, junk, sugar)
• Smoking or any tobacco use
• High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or diabetes
• Advancing age (risk rises steadily with years)

Warning Signs of Heart & Cardiovascular Disease

• Angina: chest pain, discomfort, tightness, or pressure
• Fluttering or pounding in the chest
• Racing or irregular heartbeat; sensation of "skipped" beats
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Sudden fatigue or weakness
• Severe headaches or unexplained confusion
• Unexplained nausea or sweating
• Cough producing white or frothy sputum
• Swelling in legs, feet, ankles, or hands

❗One or more of these signs or risk factors doesn't guarantee heart disease. You can also have the condition with zero symptoms. Only a doctor can diagnose accurately. If you match any risk factors or signs, seek medical evaluation as soon as possible.  ---------------------------- 

Ad: The Survival Medicine Handbook, 4th Edition - In my opinion, this is THE essential guide for when medical help is NOT on the way (which happens also to be its subtitle). Written by Dr. Joseph Alton, MD, and Amy Alton, APRN, this massive handbook (close to 700 pages) is a detailed guide for those who want to be medically prepared for any disaster or austere setting where doctors, nurses, or paramedics are not available. (Amazon link)