On any given day, you might find yourself in a few situations that make you think twice about your ticker. Perhaps you climbed a flight of stairs only to find yourself panting at the top, or it took you slightly (okay, several minutes) longer to finish a run you used to speed through. Maybe you even noticed your heartbeat racing and thought, Am I out of shape? Is it anxiety? Or is something more serious going on?
If you’re younger it’s probably nothing to be concerned about—but in some cases, an underlying cardiovascular issue could be at play. Heart problems you’re born with, a.k.a. congenital heart defects, can impact how effectively yours can pump blood. And it’s possible to develop coronary artery disease (CAD)—the most common type of heart disease—in your 20s, 30s, or 40s, although it doesn’t happen as often. That’s when clogged arteries block blood flow to the heart, which can lead to a heart attack (when part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies). There are also other cardiovascular problems, like an irregular heartbeat, called an arrhythmia, or heart failure, meaning your heart can’t pump enough blood to the rest of the body.
Some people live with these issues long before they see a doctor. That’s because you might feel nothing much at all, shrug off symptoms, or—more often if you’re a woman—a health care provider may not take those symptoms seriously or misdiagnose them.
Again, feeling like your heart is acting wonky doesn’t always mean you have full-on heart disease. But knowing the (sometimes subtle) signs to watch for can help you spot a problem before it becomes, you know, a really big problem. Here are six red flags to be aware of, even if you’re young.
1. You’re feeling exhausted or short of breath for seemingly no reason.
Because your heart pumps life-giving oxygen and nutrients to your body, any slowdown in that process can make you feel like you’re trudging through mud. Not only that, but when your heart isn’t functioning correctly (particularly in the case of heart failure), fluid can back up in and around your lungs and make it harder to take a deep breath.
Heart disease can show up a little differently depending on who you are, says Nikki Bart, MD, PhD, a heart failure and heart transplant cardiologist at St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. “Women are more likely to have more subtle signs,” she tells SELF. “For example, if a woman is going to have a heart attack, she won’t always experience crushing chest pain. She’s much more likely to have shortness of breath and fatigue.”
But how can you tell if gasping for air and constant tiredness are due to an underlying heart problem rather than a lung condition, a lingering infection, or something else? “The most important thing is that the fatigue and shortness of breath are new,” Dr. Bart notes. So if you were able to do your regular chores a few weeks or months ago, only to find yourself needing to sit down soon after starting, that’s something to pay attention to—and could be a potential sign that something’s up with your heart.
It’s also worth noting that if you smoke; have a substance use disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol; or have a family history of heart problems, you’ve got a much higher chance of developing heart disease than someone who doesn’t fit that description, Frederick L. Ruberg, MD, the chief of cardiovascular medicine at Boston Medical Center, tells SELF.
2. You’re inexplicably dizzy or sometimes pass out.
When you faint, it usually means your brain is not getting enough blood flow, often because your blood pressure just plummeted. And repeatedly passing out for seemingly no reason is definitely not normal, Dr. Ruberg explains. While fainting at rest is the most tell-tale sign that a big health issue is at play, if you’re working out and constantly feel on the verge of passing out, that’s also a problem, Dr. Ruberg points out. “It’s normal to feel a little short of breath while exercising. It’s not normal to just lose consciousness if you really feel like you’re going to pass out when you’re exerting yourself.”
Still, you don’t have to fully collapse to suspect a heart issue. Feeling overwhelming dizziness while you’re at rest or moving can be cause for concern too, Dr. Ruberg says. But before you let your health anxiety run wild, keep in mind that a ton of other things can cause these symptoms, like vertigo, dehydration, low blood sugar, or an ear infection. So bring them up to your doc, especially if you’re dealing with other unusual symptoms.
3. You feel (some sort of) pressure in your upper body.
There’s a huge array of things that can cause a weighty, tight feeling in your upper torso—after all, it’s where your lungs, parts of your digestive tract, and heart all kind of squish together. However, chest pain tends to be a prominent sign that heart disease might be present, says Dr. Bart. “It signals that you’ve got a problem with your blood supply.”
Again, it can be hard to pinpoint where exactly the pressure stems from, but Dr. Bart tends to hear a few common phrases from her patients. “Some people describe it like an elephant sitting on their chest,” she says. “Others describe the pressure as much more subtle, or they’ll feel nothing at all. There’s a whole spectrum and everyone’s different.” You might also notice some pain radiating down your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back, or even liken the sensation to indigestion, per the American Heart Association.
You could also feel nauseous, puke, or break out in a cold sweat. So how can you tell if it’s your heart rather than a case of food poisoning? That can be really challenging, but Dr. Bart says that any sudden pain you can’t explain is worth bringing to a doctor—anything “not your usual,” she notes.
4. Your heartbeat skyrockets out of nowhere or you’re having unexplained panic attacks.
Your pulse can ramp up for any number of reasons—say, you’re out for a run, you guzzled a bunch of coffee, or your crush just sent you a spicy text. But if your heart seems to flutter uncontrollably at rest, or it’s not beating as steadily as it once did, an underlying heart issue might be at play. “Palpitations can feel like this thumping in your chest, and you can sense that your heart is beating irregularly,” Dr. Bart explains. “You might suddenly get dizzy and feel like you need to sit down.”
Granted, not all funky beating patterns are problematic, pre Dr. Ruberg: “It's not unusual for the heart to skip a beat every once in a while, though it can be disconcerting when it happens. However, a doctor would be trained to recognize the features of something more serious.” (Bottom line: If your heartbeat feels different than normal, it won’t hurt to book an appointment with a doc.) Importantly, if you’re finding yourself experiencing a lot of frantic, anxiety-filled episodes as of late, that’s a biggie, Dr. Bart points out. “A lot of people I treat with heart issues will describe their symptoms almost like a panic attack,” she says. “Or like something is happening in their body that they can’t explain.”
5. You’re having some issues with the lower half of your body.
Heart trouble can manifest in more surprising parts of your body, too. For example, you can have peripheral artery disease—which is when the arteries that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body narrow—that sometimes causes pain, numbness, and cramping in your butt, hips, thighs, or calf muscles. Things typically feel worse when you’re moving. When you have a condition like heart failure, your body also has a harder time pumping blood to other parts of the body. This can cause a buildup of fluid and swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet (called edema).
Your sex life might take a hit, too. Erectile dysfunction is one common warning sign of heart disease, and people with vaginas aren’t spared either: Research suggests that heart issues can impact your libido and ability to have an orgasm, or result in problems with lubrication and painful sex.
6. You have a hard time falling and staying asleep.
If you’re dealing with any of the above issues and your sleep sucks, you could be facing some type of cardiovascular problem—for example, like heart failure. That’s because, when you lie flat, blood from your legs moves back to your heart, which can overwhelm its pumping capacity. Alternatively, you might wake up mid-sleep gasping for air due to shortness of breath from the fluid that can back up into the lungs when your heart isn’t taking care of business.
Some studies suggest that people assigned female at birth, more so than folks assigned male at birth, can have issues with their sleep (say, they wake up frequently throughout the night) in the weeks leading up to a heart attack. As SELF has previously reported, a lot of people with heart problems also have sleep apnea, a condition that causes you to stop and start breathing throughout the night. The sleep disorder can raise your blood pressure and put a tremendous strain on the heart and body. Sleep apnea symptoms might include loud snoring (ask your partner, if you have one, to let you know), and waking up parched, exhausted, and dealing with massive headaches. So if you’re feeling any of these things, you should bring it to a doctor.
Again, it’s possible to have any symptom on this list and not have heart disease—cardiovascular issues affect everybody differently. Whether it's harmless or not, it’s important to flag anything that feels new or different to a doctor. If something is going on, your health care provider will be able to a) give you a proper diagnosis, and b) get you the proper treatment. And because a lot of heart issues develop slowly over time, addressing problems—especially as a young person—can help ensure the best possible outcome.
Related:
- I Had a Heart Attack at 34. Here’s the First Symptom I Experienced
- 7 Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure Without Medication
- 4 Ways to Actually Reduce Your Heart Failure Risk, According to Science
Heart Health FAQs for Young Adults
Q: What are some common signs of heart problems in young adults? A: Some common signs include:
- Fatigue or shortness of breath: Even when doing minimal activity.
- Dizziness or fainting: Unexplained dizziness or passing out.
- Chest pressure or pain: Discomfort in the chest, neck, jaw, or arms.
- Irregular heartbeat (palpitations): Feeling like your heart is racing or fluttering.
- Swelling in the legs or ankles: This can be a sign of heart failure.
- Difficulty sleeping: Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
- Changes in sex drive or performance: Decreased libido or difficulty achieving orgasm.
Q: Can young adults develop heart disease? A: Yes, it's possible for young adults to develop heart disease, especially if they have risk factors such as family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or obesity.
Q: What are some common causes of heart problems in young adults? A: Some common causes include:
- Congenital heart defects: Heart problems you're born with.
- Coronary artery disease (CAD): Clogged arteries that can lead to a heart attack.
- Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats.
- Heart failure: When your heart can't pump enough blood to the body.
Q: How can I prevent heart problems as a young adult? A: To reduce your risk of heart problems:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Don't smoke.
- Limit alcohol consumption.
- Manage stress.
- Get regular check-ups.
Q: When should I see a doctor if I'm concerned about my heart health? A: If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, or if you have any concerns about your heart health, it's important to see a doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve your chances of a good outcome.
Q: Are there any specific heart conditions that are more common in young adults? A: Some heart conditions that may be more common in young adults include:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A condition where the heart muscle thickens.
- Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats.
- Marfan syndrome: A genetic disorder that can affect the heart.
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