Your heart is an organ vital to keeping your body alive, resilient, and in motion. This organ is not simply pumping blood.
The heart is like a supercomputer that is responsible for storing massive data. But just like a supercomputer, your heart must not be overworked.
The most dangerous complications that you can ever attain are no other than the heart problems. But these complications will not come without a warning.
Your body has its way of telling you that it is already stressed, needing to cool down from its non-stop function.
These are not just simple messages that you should ignore. It can be a warning now, but a bigger health risk to you in the future.
So, how do you identify if your heart is clearly stressed out?
Pay attention to these 10 clear signs that indicate that you have a stressed heart:
1. Gets Shortness of Breath Quickly
Monitor your condition if you easily experience shortness of breath during exercise.
This could also happen when you take a short walk or climb the stairs. The lack of exercise may not always be the reason.
If you are experiencing shortness of breath just by doing less-draining activities, it means your heart is struggling.
Your heart has a challenging time pumping oxygen to your body. If this happens often, get your heart checked by a cardiologist.
2. Having Chest Pressure Upon Waking Up
Do you sometimes feel a heavy feeling in your chest upon waking up? It means you are experiencing some chest pressure.
This feeling is not something you should ignore, especially if it occurs frequently.
Experiencing chest pressure after waking sometimes, at times it comes with sweating, means that your heart is fatigued.
Chest pressure is sometimes the result of your lifestyle. It can also indicate that you frequently eat some heavy meals late at night (which you should avoid).
Track and record every chest pressure episode that you have. This should be discussed during your doctor’s checkup.
3. Unexplained Pain in the Shoulders, Neck, or Jaw
A stressed heart doesn’t just provide a message through heart-related pain. It could also provide other messages that are near or connected within your heart.
If the pain did not manifest in your chest, it could spread or appear in your shoulders, neck, or jaw.
This feeling mostly happens to women, specifically when their heart is not getting a sufficient amount of oxygen.
It is not a random ache if it feels unusual, like experiencing other pain, such as dizziness and nausea. Seek medical help early if you are experiencing unexplained pain in your shoulders, neck, or jaw.
4. Swollen Ankles or Feet
Feeling some episodes where your feet feel tight from the shoes or socks you wear? That’s a fluid buildup.
This can be a sign of a stressed heart, because the fluid buildup symbolizes that the heart did not have proper blood circulation.
When the blood and oxygen are not well-circulated in the body, it means that the heart’s ability to pump is weakening.
Fluid buildup is usually caused by excessive salt intake and organ issues from the kidneys or the heart. Always remember to sit properly and consider your lifestyle diet.
5. Gets Tired Easily
When you feel restless after a full night’s sleep, it suggests of lack of oxygen in the heart.
Getting tired easily, despite resting for the ideal duration, is caused by several factors, such as interrupted sleep, sleep apnea, and other medical issues.
The lack of oxygen and nutrients makes the heart inefficient in distributing them throughout the organs of your body.
Due to the lack of nutrients or oxygen, your body works harder while you sleep. It explains why you felt exhausted upon waking up.
This problem can be reversed by eating balanced meals and getting enough rest. You can also consult your condition to a doctor for a better lifestyle change decision.
6. Noticing Fast or Irregular Heartbeats
If you notice that your heart is either beating fast or not beating regularly, it’s one way to say that something is wrong with your heart.
Major culprits for this experience are dehydration, stress, or a medical condition that suddenly developed.
This case needs medical attention from a cardiologist to monitor your heart health.
See the doctor for early disease detection. Aside from that, you may monitor your heart rate, keep your body hydrated, and maintain your calm mood.
7. Feeling Lightheaded or Dizzy
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded is not something to be taken lightly. This could mean abnormality in the heart function.
Feeling lightheaded or dizzy happens because your heart doesn’t pump enough blood to transport it to your brain.
If you experience having one, don’t stand up too quickly. Try lying or sitting down immediately to prevent falling.
Also, this feeling can be reduced if you conduct a cardiovascular check-up.
8. Getting the Feeling of Unease
A stressed heart can manifest in you by causing you to feel unease.
When the heart is stressed, your chest is not comfortable, and your body is fatigued. The feeling of unease, such as nausea or cold sweats, is are sign that the heart needs to be provided attention.
If the symptoms persist and do not go away, it is essential to seek emergency care. As this feeling could suggest that you have a heart complication.
9. Arms or Shoulder Pain
A bad heart condition can also manifest through pain in the shoulders or arms. This is because the nerves in the heart and the arms, and the shoulders share some pathways toward the brain.
If you are feeling the pain, accompanied by vomiting, sweating, and chest pressure. You may call for an emergency medical service.
10. Feeling Restlessness or Anxiety in the Chest
If your heart is stressed, it also increases your risk of getting higher anxiety levels.
Heart stress, usually paired with a rapid heartbeat or a fluttery chest. A stressed heart is also caused by an overworked heart and increased stress levels.
If this happened to you again, try to use calming techniques such as stretching. Get yourself consulted with a doctor if the symptoms persist.
How to Take Care of Your Heart?
Taking care of your heart is like doing your best to keep it alive and working.
It needs commitment and lifestyle change to achieve a healthy heart. These habits, regardless of whether small, can be done slowly but surely.
Slow, small lifestyle changes make your heart function properly by reducing stress, unstable emotions, and normal blood flow.
Here’s what you can do to take care of your heart:
- Load your diet with whole grains, fruits, and veggies. Avoid excessive salt intake and too much consumption of processed foods.
- Always allot some time to make some stretching, movements, or exercise for 30 minutes to an hour. It boosts circulation and makes your heart younger.
- Do some activities that de-stress your heart. Activities such as listening to music, meditation, or deep breathing are effective stress relievers.
- Getting enough sleep is non-negotiable. This helps in normalizing your blood pressure and makes your heart recover.
- Avoid vices that contribute to your health risk. Smoking, drinking, or a sedentary lifestyle are things that must be prevented.
- Appoint a schedule with the doctor to monitor your health situation. This can also help detect any developing diseases during their early stages, especially if you have a family history of heart complications.
Listen to Your Body’s Rhythm
Your heart is connected to all of the body’s vital organs. However, the heart alone cannot send a direct message about its condition.
This is why the common signs of developing or having a heart condition manifest through your body.
In different ways, your body tells you that your heart is not just problematic. It is also under attack.
The only way to do now is to make smart choices to guard your heart and make it healthier again.
Suppose you can take care of someone’s heart. It should also be your top priority to take care of your own heart.