HEALTH & WELLNESS
Healthy lifestyle tips: When to have a
heart-to-heart with your physician
It’s not always obvious when you have a serious
attack; so, if you can’t catch your breath and
condition, such as heart disease – just as high HEALTHY LIVING TIPS FROM have accompanying chest pain, call 9-1-1.
blood pressure usually has no symptoms – and
•
You’re dizzy. It’s not uncommon to
many people don’t know they have it. Many
have a quick bout of dizziness when you
other symptoms of heart disease can be similar
stand up from a seated position too quickly
to those of other conditions – or sufferers may
or don’t eat enough. But feeling dizzy can be
chalk them up to a busy lifestyle or a stressful job.
related to your blood pressure or an abnormal heart rhythm.
Did you know…if you have high untreated blood pressure, your
It also can be a symptom of a heart attack.
heart has to work harder than normal to meet your body’s de-
• Your legs are swollen. If your heart isn’t pumping effectively,
mands? Over time, this puts you at increased risk of heart attack,
it can lead to poor circulation in your extremities, especially
stroke, heart failure and even kidney disease.
your legs. Swollen feet or ankles can be a symptom of heart
With health risks in mind, here are five symptoms that should
failure, and pain in your lower leg can indicate a dangerous
send you to your doctor or cardiologist:
blood clot.
• You’re tired. Many of us are tired thanks to overloaded lives,
• You have pain in your upper body. Not all heart attacks are
but if you feel sluggish even when you’ve had enough rest,
accompanied by sudden and severe chest pain; instead, you
your heart may be to blame. If you wake up tired and your
may notice discomfort in your arm, jaw or back, especially
partner says you snore, you may have sleep apnea which,
if you’re a woman. So, if you have pain you can’t attribute to
left untreated, increases your chance of high blood pressure,
another cause, and/or have symptoms such as fatigue, dizzi-
heart damage, abnormal heart rhythms, heart failure and
ness or sweating, get medical help.
stroke.
For an appointment with a Deborah specialist or more informa-
• You’re short of breath. If activities you used to do without
a problem cause you to be short of breath, don’t ignore that
tion about how Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s leading-edge
symptom. Don’t just assume you’re out of shape or tired;
technologies can improve your quality of life, call 800-555-1990
being short of breath can be a symptom of heart failure.
or request info/an appointment by visiting www.demanddeborah.
Sudden-onset breathlessness also can be related to a heart
org.
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ OCTOBER 2017