10 Signs which indicate it’s high time to see a cardiologist

For proper functioning of a human body, regular supply of blood as well as oxygen is of utmost importance, and for that, heart is the biggest role player in the whole picture. However, one can experience some warning signs which indicate that his/her heart is not functioning to the fullest.

Following are some of the major signs which signal that it’s high time you need to pay a visit to a cardiologist:-

• If you experience chest pain – At the time of heart attack, the first and foremost sign one gets as an early symptom is chest pain, for the fact that the heart lies just behind the chest of a human. There are a number of reasons for the occurrence of chest pain, however, the biggest reason is one when your heart is not getting enough blood for circulation, possibly caused due to a blocked artery or valve.

• If you have high blood pressure – The force with which blood pushes against the wall of artery levels, commonly known as blood pressure, should be optimum for regular flow of both blood as well as oxygen. If the blood pressure rises abruptly, there are chances that the heart might not be able to regulate the pumping action, which might result in heart attack.

• If you have shortness of breath or dizziness – While there are a multiple number of reasons behind dizziness and is a common phenomenon among humans, the lack of breath is not a mainstream thing to happen. If any one of these, either shortness of breath or dizziness, happens in a severe amount, it signals that the optimum amount of oxygen is not circulated by heart, thus finally resulting in abnormal heart beat.

• If you have diabetes – While the major cause of occurrence of diabetes is lack of insulin in your body causing sugar levels in your blood, this particular disease also affects the smooth operation of the heart. If blood sugar levels are not optimum, the functioning of blood vessels is affected, which can lead to coronary artery disease.

• If you are a constant smoker – There is a strong reason behind your daily packet of cigarettes carrying the phrase ‘smoking is injurious to health’. Regular smoking affects the functioning of lungs, which in turns restricts the flow of oxygen in blood. This eventually disturbs the pumping function of blood from your heart, and can gradually become a major reason behind high blood pressure.

• If you have high cholesterol level in your body – The major sources of cholesterol are the foods you consume and residues from your liver. If there is a sudden increase in the levels of cholesterol in one’s body, primarily due to irregular or unhealthy eating habits, it can lead to formation of plaque in arteries, thereby causing blockage and eventually, flow of blood from heart as well.

• If you have chronic kidney disease – After your heart, your kidneys are the major organ sources which can lead to a potential heart failure, since the major root cause of diabetes mentioned above lies in the ill-functioning of kidneys. Improper functioning of kidneys can result in increase in blood pressure and sugar levels, which over the time can lead to heart failure, if not suddenly.

• If you have a family history of heart disease – Genetics do play a major role in a healthy being of a human. If the previous generation members of a person have had a history of a heart disease, primarily who are in their late years of age, there is a strong possibility of transfer of their genes in their successor, i.e. the concerned person.

• If you have peripheral heart disease – Apart from the major disease directly linked to your heart, if you are suffering from other peripheral ailments linked via other arteries, like leg or arm arteries, and are constantly suffering from pains and aches in those linked body parts, chances are that you might be suffering from a coronary artery disease.

• If you have an inactive lifestyle – If you are someone who has been avoiding the words like ‘exercise’ or ‘workout’ in your life, and lead a pretty inactive lifestyle, it can lead to weak functioning of the heart in the longer run. Regular physical activities on a daily basis, including your exercise regime, results in proper and smooth functioning of heart as well as flow of blood.

In all the aforementioned circumstances, if any one particular cause is something you can relate with, proper consultation and advice from a trained cardiologist will serve good results in a longer run to avoid heart related ailments.