Beyond the Usual Suspects: 5 Surprising Signs of an Unhealthy Heart

Heart disease describes various conditions that affect your heart, including blood vessel diseases (coronary artery disease), irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), and congenital heart defects. It’s the top cause of death in the United States.

The usual signs of heart disease that you might be familiar with include chest pain, shortness of breath, and weakness in the arms and legs. However, there could be other subtle cues that your heart isn’t functioning correctly and requires medical intervention. 

At HealthStone Primary Care Partners in Hollywood, Florida, Charles Stone, MD, leads our team in diagnosing and providing long-term medical management for heart disease. In this month’s blog, we discuss some lesser-known signs of heart disease. 

1. Sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that occurs when your airways become temporarily blocked while you’re asleep, causing loud snoring and pauses in breathing. If your partner mentions that you snore loudly or often stop breathing in the night, you may have this condition.

OSA has been linked to higher chances of heart problems, including high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and heart attack. If you suspect that you have OSA, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our team to check on your heart health. 

2. Lower leg cramping and swelling 

If you often experience pain, cramping, and swelling in your lower legs, you may have peripheral arterial disease, which can cause poor circulation. This condition develops when your peripheral arteries narrow due to plaque buildup, preventing sufficient blood flow to the legs.

This same plaque buildup can also affect the coronary arteries. Thus, if you often experience cramping pain in the calves while walking that subsides with rest, you might have a cardiovascular issue that needs to be addressed. 

3. Fatigue 

When you have heart disease, your body has to work extra hard to get blood, oxygen, and essential nutrients where they need to go. As a result, you may experience general fatigue or become excessively tired with any physical activity. 

If you’ve noticed that you’re more fatigued than usual, visit our team for an evaluation. 

4. Jaw pain

Jaw pain that’s often mistaken for a dental issue could indicate your heart is working extra hard to do its job. If you experience jaw pain that isn’t related to dental problems or seems to radiate from your chest or back, seek urgent medical attention since this could signal a heart attack. 

5. Erectile dysfunction (ED)

If you have difficulties achieving and maintaining an erection satisfactory for sex, the problem could start with your heart. ED is often related to poor blood flow caused by heart disease and other circulatory issues. If you struggle with ED regularly, our team may suggest a heart health evaluation.  

To learn more about any of these signs of heart disease or to schedule an appointment to check your heart health, simply call our office or use our online booking feature today.