What Are the Symptoms and Early Signs of Heart Disease?

The body sometimes shows subtle, early signs of cardiovascular disease—also known as heart disease—which includes conditions like heart failure and heart attacks. The early signs can include fatigue, feelings of depression or anxiety, and changes in your nails or skin.

Heart disease is the top cause of death in the United States, so it's important to know what symptoms to look out for as soon as possible. Read on to learn more about the possible initial signs of heart disease and when to see a healthcare provider.

What Is Heart Disease?

Heart disease is a collection of conditions affecting the heart and related to how blood flows to the heart. Those conditions can include:

• Blood vessel diseases like coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Issues with blood flow, leading to other problems like heart attacks, heart failure, and angina, which is chest pain due to decreased blood flow
• Problems with heart rate or the rhythm of your heartbeat, like arrhythmia
  

Symptoms may be different depending on the type of heart disease you have. In some cases, you may not have any symptoms in earlier stages. Though that may be the case, the following symptoms are some that people may see early on.

1. Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath isn't an exclusive symptom of heart disease. When it is, your shortness of breath can be the result of problems with the heart's valves or its ability to pump blood. For example, with heart failure, fluid leaks into the lungs because blood is caught in the blood vessels that send blood from your lungs to your heart.

2. Fatigue

This isn't just "lack of sleep" tired; it is extreme fatigue. Think of how you feel when you get the flu—except it doesn't go away. The heart has a hard time pumping blood to the body's tissues, and the body sends more blood back to the heart and brain.

That said, plenty of people experience fatigue for lots of reasons. If this is your only symptom, you can talk to a healthcare provider, but don't conclude you have heart trouble based on this alone.

3. Feet or Leg Swelling

Swollen feet can occur for several reasons, such as pregnancy, varicose veins (swollen veins that can be seen beneath the skin), or lack of movement when you travel, for instance). Swelling can also be a sign of heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart pumps blood inefficiently.

4. Dizziness

If you have ever been to a gym, you may have seen warning signs to stop walking, running, cycling, or stepping if you feel dizzy or lightheaded. Dizziness is one of those symptoms that can have many causes, including heart disease.

Lightheadedness could be caused by blockages in arteries that lessen blood pressure. You might also feel dizzy due to problems with heart valves.

5. Pain While Walking

Hip and leg muscle cramps that hurt when you move but feel better when you rest could be a sign of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD is a buildup of fatty plaque in leg arteries that is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

6. Depressive Feelings

Depression on its own is probably not a sign that you have heart trouble, but mental well-being is linked to physical well-being. Studies have suggested that people who are depressed are at greater risk of heart trouble. One study indicated that cardiovascular disease and depression can be risk factors for each other.

7. Skin Discoloration

Changes in the color of your skin can be a sign of heart disease. The color changes may be the result of:

• Blocked arteries
• Blocked blood vessels
• Infected blood vessels or heart

You may find that your skin has a bluish or purplish tone, especially on your toes, or that there's a blue or purple pattern that looks like a net on parts of your body. The soles of your feet or palms of your hands could also have brown or red spots.

8. Migraines

A headache may be only a headache in some cases. Regular migraines, however, can suggest that something may be amiss with your heart.

Researchers have found a connection between cardiovascular events and migraine—particularly for migraines with aura as a symptom. Aura is a condition in which recurring headaches occur along with other sensory disturbances, such as flashes of light or blind spots.

9. Audible Heartbeat

While some people adjust to the sound of their heartbeat and often change their sleeping positions to avoid hearing it, that doesn't mean you should ignore it. The ability to hear your heartbeat, called pulsatile tinnitus, can be associated with heart disease. Tell a healthcare provider if you're being lulled to sleep by the "thump-thump" of your heart to determine the actual cause.

10. Nail Changes

Heart disease can also manifest in or around your nails. Clubbed fingers—when fingers become swollen and nails turn downward—are a symptom of a heart infection or heart disease. Reddish or purplish lines under your nails that you know aren't due to an injury can potentially point to heart problems.

11. Panic Attack-Like Symptoms

Anxiety, sweating, and nausea are classic symptoms of a panic attack, but they could also be early signs of a heart attack. If these symptoms are followed by shortness of breath, a feeling of fullness, or aching in your chest, get to an emergency room immediately.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

Any signs of heart disease warrant a consult with a healthcare provider. Even if you think the symptoms may go away or aren't related to a heart problem, it's best to see a provider.

When To Seek Immediate Medical Assistance

Certain heart disease symptoms need medical attention as soon as possible. These symptoms include:

• Angina that persists beyond five minutes of resting or following a dose of nitroglycerin, a treatment for angina
• Chest pain and other apparent or potential heart attack symptoms
• Extreme shortness of breath
• Suspected loss of consciousness

A Quick Review

You may not know you have heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease. Symptoms are not always immediately present. More subtle heart disease symptoms can range from dizziness and chest pain to leg swelling and migraines. You may also experience depression or panic attack-like symptoms.

For any signs that may point to heart disease, contact a healthcare provider. Seek immediate care for emergency signs like extreme shortness of breath and lasting chest pain.