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Heart disease is something that often shows up without any signs and kills silently. To diagnose heart disease, your doctor may look at your personal and family medical history, current and past symptoms, and suggests various laboratory tests, use different types of CT scans and electrocardiogram. Apart from the usual chest pain and heart palpitations, heart disease has a few other symptoms that most people are unaware of. World Heart Day is observed worldwide today to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease. On this occasion, we have created a list of unusual signs related to heart problems to help you get diagnosed and treated early. Here are the signs to watch out for:
Your tongue could also tell whether or not you have heart problems. Normal tongues are pale red with a pale white coating. A redder tongue with a yellow coating may be a sign of chronic heart failure, suggested a study by researchers from the Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. The composition, quantity and dominant bacteria of the tongue coating were also found to be different between heart failure patients and healthy people. Heart failure patients had the same microorganisms in their tongue coating, which gave their tongue a darker shade.
Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. It causes a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body, usually most intense over the face, neck and chest, with profuse sweating. But hot flashes may also be a sign of heart disease in women age between 40-53 years. A study in Menopause suggested that 'early occurring hot flashes may be those most relevant to heart disease risk'. The associations were independent of other heart disease risk factors.
A visible external crease on the earlobe may indicate atherosclerosis, narrowing of the arteries due to buildup of plaque. It is the leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral vascular disease. Sanders Frank, an American doctor first described the sign, which is also known as Frank's sign after him.
Beware of yellow, fatty bumps on your elbows, knees, butts or eyelids. They are known as xanthomas and commonly seen in people with familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic disease. This disease is associated with high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or bad cholesterol, which is a risk factor for heart diseases.
Are your fingernails changing shape? If they are becoming thicker and wider, there is something wrong with your heart. This may happen when oxygenated blood is not reaching the fingers properly. It is also known as Hippocratic fingers after Hippocrates who first described the symptom in the fifth-century BC.
A grey ring around your iris may be another indication that you are at risk of developing heart disease. Usually, the ring starts at the top and bottom of the iris before forming a complete ring. However, it does not affect your vision.
Bad breath, loose teeth and bleeding gums are signs of poor oral health. But this can also lead to heart problems. So, get a heart checkup too after your dental visit. Bad bacteria from your mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation in the blood vessels. This is a precursor to cardiovascular disease.
If you notice that the colour of your lips has turned blue, consider visiting a cardiologist. The changes in your lip colour may be due to the failure of the cardiovascular system to deliver oxygenated blood to tissues.