Heart disease can be suspected through some symptoms, such as shortness of breath, easy tiredness, palpitations or tachycardia, swelling in the ankles and chest pain, it is recommended to go to the cardiologist if the symptoms are persistent and progressive.
Most heart disease does not come on suddenly, but rather develop over time many times without symptoms. Most heart diseases are only discovered after routine examinations, such as the electrocardiogram (ECG) or stress test, for example. When there are symptoms, it is usually indicative that the disease is already at a more advanced stage, and it is necessary to treat it quickly.
Symptoms of heart problems
The people most likely to develop heart disease are sedentary, obese, people with high cholesterol, diabetes or who have a family history of heart disease. Take the following test to check for the possibility of heart problems:
- 1. Shortness of breath at rest or on exertion Yes No
- 2. Chest pain Yes No
- 3. Dry and persistent cough Yes No
- 4. Bluish color at your fingertips Yes No
- 5. Dizziness or fainting Yes No
- 6. Palpitations or tachycardia Yes No
- 7. Swelling in the legs Yes No
- 8. Excessive tiredness for no apparent reason Yes No
- 9. Cold sweat Yes No
- 10. Nausea or loss of appetite Yes No
It is important that people who are within the risk factors for heart disease be regularly monitored by the cardiologist and perform periodic examinations, in addition to paying special attention to health, improving eating habits and practicing physical activities.
How to confirm heart disease
As soon as the first symptoms of heart disease appear, it is important to go to the cardiologist to make the diagnosis and start treatment as soon as possible.
The confirmation of heart problems must be done by the doctor through tests that allow the evaluation of the heart shape and function, such as chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and stress test, for example. In addition, the cardiologist may recommend performing laboratory tests, such as the measurement of troponin, myoglobin and CK-MB, which may be altered during a heart attack, for example. Learn more about tests to assess heart function.
How to prevent heart disease
To prevent heart disease, a healthy diet with little salt, sugar and also little fat is recommended, in addition to regular physical exercise. Those who do not have free time should make the right choices, such as avoiding the elevator and climbing stairs, not using the remote control and getting up to change the TV channel and other attitudes that make the body work harder and spend more energy.
