While a lot of people suffer from blocked arteries, they don’t realize that this is the problem until something drastic happens. Keeping track of early symptoms can save lives and it is essential for everyone to know that they are.
Here 6 early symptoms you should look out for:
1. Lower Body Aches
Blockages in arteries can cause pain in parts of your lower body like your hips and thighs while you go about your day to day work. The lack of proper circulation results in muscles cramps and pain.
2. Your Chest Hurts
When the heart doesn’t receive proper blood flow, your chest might start hurting. At the same time, you might also experience a tight or numb sensation. You’ll feel like there’s a weight on your chest or experience something like severe heartburn. Consult with a physician before you suffer from a cardiac arrest.
3. Blindness
Sudden loss of vision in one eye could indicate blockages in the arteries. It is best to get yourself checked so that you don’t become completely blind. If an artery becomes fully blocked, you might end up suffering a stroke.
4. Difficulty In Breathing
You might be finding it difficult to breathe because the lack of sufficient blood flow is preventing organs like your lungs from functioning properly.
5. Cold Sensations
Peripheral Arterial Disease or PAD can make your limbs and extremities feel cold at all time. If you’re experiencing this, you need to proceed with caution because this disease is often a warning that your arteries might be facing a much more serious issue which could potentially lead to a heart attack. It might also cause injuries to the brain or to the heart.
6. Tiredness
It is most prevalent amongst women. Even though tiredness is not one of the usual symptoms that a patient is suffering from coronary artery disease, it is very much possible that it is an indicator. When blood is unable to circulate properly, the flow of oxygen to the different parts of the body is disrupted and this can result in fatigue and weariness.
Don’t wait around after you start experiencing any of these symptoms. Consult your doctor at the earliest and get the problem checked out. It is also important to adopt a healthy lifestyle so that you can prevent this problem from occurring altogether.
Stick to a healthy diet that is good for your heart. Cut out saturated fats and include good, unsaturated fats like those found in olives, fish, and nut. Avoid overly processed and preserved foods because they contain a lot of trans fats and try to eliminate sugar as much as possible. Work out a regular exercise schedule that suits your body type and stamina. Exercise for at least half an hour, five days a week.
Lifestyle changes are of utmost importance. If you’re a regular consumer of alcohol and cigarettes, you need to rethink that. Don’t be afraid to seek help to quit smoking. Cut down on alcohol consumption as much as you can.
Remember, a pound of prevention is worth an ounce of cure.
