5 Silent Signs of Heart Disease You Should Never Ignore

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death. These disorders of the heart and blood vessels include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions. 

At West Houston Heart Center in Houston, Texas, Dr. Humayun Naqvi and his team provide preventative cardiology to find signs of heart disease early and stop them from developing into a life-threatening condition.

Here’s what you need to know about the common symptoms of heart disease, plus five lesser-known signs you should never ignore.

Common symptoms of heart disease

There are plenty of well-known symptoms that point to the possibility of latent heart disease. If you experience any of the following, it’s time to reach out and have tests run to check on the health of your heart:

• Chest pain
• Pressure in the chest
• Pain in the shoulder, neck, and/or jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) 

There are also many factors that contribute to the development of heart disease, such as:

• Age
• Family history of heart disease
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Tobacco use

While lifestyle changes can reduce your chance of stroke or heart attack, factors you can’t control, such as genetic predisposition to heart disease, can mean you may need to be aware of the “silent” signs of heart disease.

5 silent heart disease signs you should never ignore

It's easy to wave off silent signs of heart disease or attribute them to another health issue. However, if you have high-risk factors for heart disease, or even just one of the more common symptoms of heart disease like arrhythmia or shortness of breath, you need to be worried about these signs, too, as they could forewarn of a sudden heart attack.

1. Pain in your upper back between your shoulder blades
2. Chronic indigestion that doesn’t respond to appropriate medication
3. Unexplained episodes of heavy sweating
4. Bouts of dizziness or lightheadedness, or chronic fatigue
5. Nausea and/or vomiting without an obvious cause

These symptoms can be signs that your heart isn’t working well because of heart disease. They don’t mean a heart attack is certainly imminent, but they can be early signs of a cardiovascular event.

Don’t ignore the silent signs of heart disease. Call us at 832-400-3957, or book your appointment online today. We can schedule tests and run scans to ensure all parts of your heart are working as they should, identify any issues, and prepare a customized treatment plan that leads you back to a healthy heart and an active lifestyle.