Factors to take into account
If you have had chest pain for a few days and an acquaintance has assured you that you could have a heart problem, you should take into account some aspects that take on weight in these situations.
What symptoms should make us visit the cardiologist?
Shortness of breath (dyspnea): This feeling of drowning can be related to different diseases or diseases such as anxiety. However, shortness of breath can be related to a heart problem when it is linked to the body asking us to breathe quickly because it feels as if it had performed an act of significant wear and tear, although what we have is an action that has not been done. required of great physical effort.
Swollen ankles: Sometimes our ankles can swell for different reasons and this does not have to imply heart disease, but when should I go to see a doctor quickly? In case that in addition to the swelling there is an increase in the dimensions of the abdomen or a lack of air. Secondly, in case the swelling is added to a redness of the skin, an increase in the temperature of the area and a feeling of pain, I should go to my health center as quickly as possible.
Chest pain. The fact of suffering from it does not imply that it is caused by a heart attack, since it can be caused by other factors: stress, problems in the aorta vein, pneumonia, etc. It can be related to a heart attack when: – The pain is very intense. – The intensity of pain decreases if we rest. – The sensation of pain is located in the center of the chest. – The pain does not go away. – We feel like vomiting or going to the bathroom.
- Feeling palpitations. Feeling palpitations can take place in a situation without any risk as in others that do. However, we must go to a hospital or call an ambulance when 150 beats per minute are reached at rest, when the palpitations are irregular and when this sensation is accompanied by dizziness or shortness of breath.
Other aspects to assess
In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, there are also other indicators for which we should go to a hospital or medical center even if we do not suffer any pain:
History of heart attack in the family . If we have had direct relatives who have died of a heart attack before the age of 55, or there has been a sudden death in the family, it is advisable to visit a cardiologist from a young age.
Bad habits . If we are smokers, we have an unhealthy diet, we suffer from obesity, we lead a sedentary life or we drink alcohol on a regular basis, the risk of suffering from any heart problem also increases.
Highly demanding physical exercise . If we come from a sedentary life and want to start doing highly demanding or competitive physical exercise, we should first go to a doctor to design a preparation program for our body before starting any test.