A heart surgeon has talked about the three main signs that could mean you are suffering a heart attack.
Heart health is important for everyone, and there are things you can do to maintain your heart in good shape, such as eating well, working out, and getting your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked on a regular basis.
Credit: @drjeremylondon/TikTok
But there are several warning signs that your heart might not be working well, and getting treatment immediately away could save your life.
A heart surgeon from Savannah, Georgia, named Dr. Jeremy London used TikTok to talk about some of the indicators that people should be aware of.
“The first one is the biggest red flag,” he said. “That’s chest pain, or more often, chest pressure.” It happens when you move about and goes away when you relax. This means that a part of the heart may not be getting enough blood, which is called stable angina.
Credit: pikselstock – stock.adobe.com
Stable angina, which can be caused by stress, activity, or cold weather, usually goes away with rest or medicine. However, it can be a sign that something is amiss and could lead to a heart attack if the symptoms get worse or don’t go away.
London said that the second warning sign is “a little more subtle,” and that it is “shortness of breath, especially with activity.” He also said, “But it’s progressive shortness of breath, in other words, it’s getting worse over time.”
London said that the third symptom is the most subtle: “It’s easy to get tired or have a lower tolerance for exercise.”
It’s normal to feel tired after a hard workout or run, but London says that “fatigue out of proportion to the activity” is when you should start to worry.
If tasks like “taking out the trash, taking a shower, crossing the parking lot of the supermarket, and having to stop” start to feel like a lot of work, London says that “these are all red flags” that you need to visit a doctor.
He said, “Our bodies have built-in warning systems; the key is to listen to them before you get into trouble.”
Credit: Kinga Krzeminska/Getty Images
More than 900,000 people have since watched London’s video, and many of them left comments about it.
“I had all of these for two years, but doctors said nothing was wrong. Then I had a heart attack in January and a triple heart bypass in February,” one viewer said.
Some others said, “I thought I just wasn’t fit enough; it turns out I needed two valves replaced.” “Good as gold now,” and “I survived heart failure.” These are correct, but it’s hard to get doctors to believe them.
Some people said that other things, such anxiety, can also cause the symptoms. For example, one person said, “I had all this and have anxiety (I saw a cardiologist)” and another said, “My anxiety gives me all of these symptoms.”
Some people said, “strangely enough, GERD can cause some of these symptoms,” and “I have every symptom but I have POTS.”
Credit: PixelsEffect/Getty Images
One person said, “Man, I have anxiety and MS…” I suffer similar symptoms a lot, but my testing usually show that my heart is fine.
These symptoms are not all of them, of course. Heart problems can also cause a constant discomfort in the left arm, fainting or dizziness, neck or jaw pain, sweating, and an irregular pulse, to name a few.
The most important thing is to see your doctor as soon as possible if you see anything strange or frightening. This will help you discover dangerous conditions early.