Aurelio Rojas reveals three harmless signs that may indicate a heart problem.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Spain, with an average of 120,000 deaths per year. The symptoms that these pathologies can present vary widely, just as there are different types of heart diseases.
However, according to cardiologist Aurelio Rojas, there are three signs that could be warning us that something is wrong with our heart. If we pay attention to them, we could perhaps prevent a significant number of serious cases that develop over time. The earlier they are detected and diagnosed, the better the prognosis. What are these signs?
1. Shortness of breath when lying down
The first warning, which at first glance might seem like a consequence of gas or the stress of the day, is feeling a certain difficulty breathing when we go to bed. In the words of the cardiologist, who posted a video about it on his social media, "pay attention if you find yourself unable to breathe properly when you're completely lying down."
In this case, we usually sit up abruptly and sit on the edge of the bed, trying to catch our breath . Many sufferers believe that placing several pillows to keep their torso upright is enough.
If you experience difficulty breathing while lying down, and this persists for more than one night, the first thing to do is consult a doctor to rule out cardiac pathology.
2. Sharp chest pain
The second sign that shouldn't go unnoticed "is called angina , and it consists of a very strong pressure in the center of the chest that forces us to stop when we are carrying out some type of physical effort such as climbing stairs," explains Rojas.
Well, most often this sensation disappears within a few seconds after sitting down, with calm and conscious breathing. However, this may not happen, especially in some cases, "related to older people or women who may notice more difficulty breathing and noticeable fatigue."
3. Swollen legs and fluid retention
The third sign that could be warning us that something is not right with our heart, according to the expert, "has to do with fluid retention . The most common symptom is that the patient "notices above all that their legs are swelling . A clear sign that should alert us is if we touch the skin with a finger, and the area is marked with the shape of the finger."
This is called 'phobic edema' (characterized by the presence of a dimple or 'fovea' that remains in the skin after applying pressure , as if it were modeling clay). Cardiologist Aurelio Rojas concludes by warning that, "Now that you know these symptoms and the consequences they could have, if you ever notice something like this, don't waste time and listen to your heart."
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