Don’t ignore unusual symptoms like nausea, dizziness: Heart experts

In an advisory to the general public on the eve of World Heart Day, health experts have urged people not to ignore unusual symptoms like dizziness, nausea and neck pain. When it comes to heart health, most people recognise typical warning signs such as chest pain or difficulty in breathing, said Dr Deepak Kapila, cardiologist at Fortis Escorts Hospital.

He said more subtle and uncommon symptoms that could indicate underlying heart issues are often ignored. “Overlooking these early signs can have serious consequences, making it essential to pay attention to even the most understated symptoms,” he said.

Urging people to go for regular preventive check-ups, Dr Arun Kumar Chopra said there could be nine unusual signs that could be an indication of a serious heart problem. He listed jaw or neck pain with exertion, swelling in the legs, ankles or feet, chronic fatigue, nausea or indigestion, dizziness or light-headedness, snoring and sleep apnea, excessive sweating, irregular or rapid heartbeats and shortness of breath with mild activity as the indicators of underlying heart ailments.

He explained that loud snoring or episodes where breathing stops during sleep (sleep apnea) are linked to heart problems. Sleep apnea strains the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats and heart attacks.

He further said cold sweats or excessive sweating without an obvious cause like exercise or heat can be a sign of heart trouble, especially during a heart attack. If you notice unexplained sweating, it could indicate that the heart is under stress.

Paying attention to these often-ignored symptoms can help people identify heart ailments at an early stage and seek timely medical intervention and thus saving their lives, stated experts.