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From Chest Pain To Vision Problems: Expert Lists Symptoms Of Blocked Arteries
Do you have chest pain, leg pain, high blood pressure, and vision problems? If yes, It's time to be serious as it may be an indication of blocked arteries.
This condition occurs when there is a build-up of calcium, fat, cholesterol, and other substances around your arteries. Arteries are responsible for carrying blood and oxygen to various parts of your body. However, when arteries become blocked, it can lead to serious health consequences, such as stroke and heart attack.
We spoke to our expert Dr Zakia Khan, Senior Consultant-Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan, who listed seven warning signs that indicate blocked arteries.
Chest PainOne of the most common symptoms of blocked arteries is chest pain. You may experience tightness or pressure in your chest that spreads to the arms, jaw, neck, or back. It can also be a sign of angina, a condition caused by reduced blood flow to your heart, or a heart attack which occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked.
A condition called Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) occurs when blood to the legs is blocked by arteries. This causes leg pain, cramping, or weakness during physical activity. Taking rest may fade the pain, but once the person resumes physical activity the pain can come back. In severe cases, PAD may result in amputation, infections, or even ulcers.
Shortness Of BreathYou may also experience shortness of breath if your arteries are blocked. This is because your heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's requirements when arteries become blocked. This symptom may occur during physical activity or at rest and may be accompanied by chest pain or discomfort.
Also Read: Expert Tips To Follow In Your 20s & 30s To Have A Healthy Heart Later
Erectile DysfunctionMen may experience erectile dysfunction due to clogged arteries in the pelvis. It is often caused by atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries become clogged with fatty deposits. It has an impact on the blood arteries that supply the penis with blood. If you are someone who experiences this condition, consult with healthcare immediately as it may be an early sign of a serious condition.
Also Read: Rising Heart Diseases In Women: Foods You Should Eat To Improve Your Heart Health
It is natural to experience fatigue when overburdened with work or physical exertion. However, when you have blocked arteries you may experience this symptom more often as your heart works harder to pump blood throughout your body. You could consequently feel weak and exhausted. This symptom may be accompanied by shortness of breath, chest pain, or dizziness.
Vision ProblemsBlocked arteries can even affect your vision and cause eye issues, such as blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision. These signs and symptoms could indicate a serious disease, like a stroke or a retinal artery obstruction. They could also appear suddenly or gradually over time.
BottomlineIf you experience any of these symptoms, you should immediately visit a doctor to avoid health complications. Early detection and treatment can prevent cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks. In addition, maintain a healthy diet and engage in physical activities to keep your health in check.
Doctors Said Weight And Stress Caused Her Symptoms. They Came From A Blocked Heart Artery.
After a week of remote work in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Denise Castille was packing up her desk and preparing to leave for the airport to catch a flight back to her home in McKinney, Texas.
Most of her co-workers had already left for the Independence Day long weekend when Denise, then 46, started experiencing sharp chest pain. She began sweating profusely. Her skin suddenly appeared gray. She called out to a colleague, who called 911.
The paramedics arrived and checked her heart's electrical activity using an electrocardiogram. They determined she was having a heart attack. Denise was rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered a 99% blockage in her heart's main artery.
Denise's mother, Shirley Castille, booked a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth airport and rushed to the hospital to be at her daughter's side.
"There just aren't words to explain how a mother feels when she sees her daughter fading away," Shirley said. "I asked God to give me the strength to do what Denise needed me to do."
Denise spent a month recovering in Michigan before doctors gave her permission to travel home.
Looking back on the 2015 heart attack, Denise believes things could have turned out much differently.
"The thing that we do as women is ignore signs. We put a Band-Aid on it. We take aspirin, promise we'll rest," she said. "We have got to know what the risk factors are (and) what it looks like if someone is having a heart attack."
It wasn't just that Denise dismissed her symptoms. Her doctors did, too.
About six months before her heart attack, Denise saw her primary care physician to discuss why her feet and ankles were swollen. The doctor told Denise she was overweight and the swelling would resolve if she lost weight. One month later, Denise started experiencing chest pain.
"It scared the heck out of me," she said. "But at no point did I make the connection that the chest pain had something to do with my heart or was related to the swollen feet and ankles."
Then came the day Denise took Shirley to a doctor's appointment. The paperwork asked all sorts of questions about symptoms of heart problems. Denise checked "no" for Shirley, but realized the answers were "yes" for herself.
"I started having some bells and whistles," Denise said. "That's when I knew it could be my heart."
Denise saw a cardiologist. After a stress test, the doctor said there was no indication she had a blockage or any signs of heart issues. This was about three months after she'd begun having chest pain.
She left the doctor's office feeling relieved. Fear returned when Denise, a corporate trainer, left for a business trip to Denver.
Heart palpitations prompted Denise to start monitoring her blood pressure. She saw it was on the rise. She logged her symptoms in a spreadsheet, which she gave to her cardiologist at a follow-up appointment a month after the previous visit. The doctor handed it back to Denise and said, "I don't need it because there is nothing wrong with your heart."
The cardiologist chalked up the symptoms to stress and told her to relax.
Two weeks later, Denise was in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Each time she experienced heart palpitations, she reassured herself that it was just stress. Hours later she was in an ambulance, headed to the hospital. Doctors ended up opening her blocked coronary artery by inserting a stent during a non-invasive procedure.
Four years later, Denise experienced several episodes of a low heart rate. One time, she passed out and spent the night in the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed it as an isolated incident. Seven months later, she was back in the hospital. This time her heart stopped, and she had to be resuscitated. She ended up getting a device implanted to help maintain a regular rhythm.
Denise was grateful she survived. But she carried a lot of anger over multiple missed diagnoses that could have proven fatal. She even contacted an attorney about pursuing legal action but decided to take a positive approach to recovery.
Denise founded a nonprofit organization, Fresh Start for Your Heart, that provides heart disease education and resources. She teaches CPR classes and participates in American Heart Association events.
"Denise is a real survivor," Shirley said. "And because she survived, she wanted to give back."
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Doctors Said Weight And Stress Caused Her Symptoms. They Came From A Blocked Heart Artery.
After a week of remote work in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Denise Castille was packing up her desk and preparing to leave for the airport to catch a flight back to her home in McKinney, Texas.
Most of her co-workers had already left for the Independence Day long weekend when Denise, then 46, started experiencing sharp chest pain. She began sweating profusely. Her skin suddenly appeared gray. She called out to a colleague, who called 911.
The paramedics arrived and checked her heart's electrical activity using an electrocardiogram. They determined she was having a heart attack. Denise was rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered a 99% blockage in her heart's main artery.
Denise's mother, Shirley Castille, booked a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth airport and rushed to the hospital to be at her daughter's side.
"There just aren't words to explain how a mother feels when she sees her daughter fading away," Shirley said. "I asked God to give me the strength to do what Denise needed me to do."
Denise spent a month recovering in Michigan before doctors gave her permission to travel home.
Looking back on the 2015 heart attack, Denise believes things could have turned out much differently.
"The thing that we do as women is ignore signs. We put a Band-Aid on it. We take aspirin, promise we'll rest," she said. "We have got to know what the risk factors are (and) what it looks like if someone is having a heart attack."
It wasn't just that Denise dismissed her symptoms. Her doctors did, too.
About six months before her heart attack, Denise saw her primary care physician to discuss why her feet and ankles were swollen. The doctor told Denise she was overweight and the swelling would resolve if she lost weight. One month later, Denise started experiencing chest pain.
"It scared the heck out of me," she said. "But at no point did I make the connection that the chest pain had something to do with my heart or was related to the swollen feet and ankles."
Then came the day Denise took Shirley to a doctor's appointment. The paperwork asked all sorts of questions about symptoms of heart problems. Denise checked "no" for Shirley, but realized the answers were "yes" for herself.
"I started having some bells and whistles," Denise said. "That's when I knew it could be my heart."
Denise saw a cardiologist. After a stress test, the doctor said there was no indication she had a blockage or any signs of heart issues. This was about three months after she'd begun having chest pain.
She left the doctor's office feeling relieved. Fear returned when Denise, a corporate trainer, left for a business trip to Denver.
Heart palpitations prompted Denise to start monitoring her blood pressure. She saw it was on the rise. She logged her symptoms in a spreadsheet, which she gave to her cardiologist at a follow-up appointment a month after the previous visit. The doctor handed it back to Denise and said, "I don't need it because there is nothing wrong with your heart."
The cardiologist chalked up the symptoms to stress and told her to relax.
Two weeks later, Denise was in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Each time she experienced heart palpitations, she reassured herself that it was just stress. Hours later she was in an ambulance, headed to the hospital. Doctors ended up opening her blocked coronary artery by inserting a stent during a non-invasive procedure.
Four years later, Denise experienced several episodes of a low heart rate. One time, she passed out and spent the night in the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed it as an isolated incident. Seven months later, she was back in the hospital. This time her heart stopped, and she had to be resuscitated. She ended up getting a device implanted to help maintain a regular rhythm.
Denise was grateful she survived. But she carried a lot of anger over multiple missed diagnoses that could have proven fatal. She even contacted an attorney about pursuing legal action but decided to take a positive approach to recovery.
Denise founded a nonprofit organization, Fresh Start for Your Heart, that provides heart disease education and resources. She teaches CPR classes and participates in American Heart Association events.
"Denise is a real survivor," Shirley said. "And because she survived, she wanted to give back."
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