Heart Symptoms - Dr Yee Kok Meng

Chest pain arising from the heart is classically described as a heaviness or tightness across the middle of the chest (“like an elephant sitting on your chest”). It may radiate up to the neck and jaw or down the left arm. It is often exacerbated by exertion, and may also be associated with breathlessness, sweating or nausea. However it is worth pointing out that not everyone presents in this classical manner, and there are patients who present with atypical symptoms including pains in the upper abdomen, right-sided chest pains or even with symptoms that radiate to the back. Hence all chest pains should not be ignored, and should be treated seriously. It is recommended that you consult a doctor if you experience any form of chest pains.

Swelling in your lower legs is another potential sign of a heart problem. When your heart is failing and doesn’t pump well, blood flow slows and backs up in the veins in your legs. This causes fluid to build up in your soft tissues.

When the heart can’t pump blood as well as it should, blood backs up in the veins that go from the lungs to the heart. Fluid leaks into the lungs and causes shortness of breath.

Temporary loss of consciousness usually related to insufficient blood flow to the brain. It may when blood pressure is too low (hypotension) or when the heart doesn’t pump enough oxygen to the brain.

There are many reasons why the heart beat too fast or too slow. An irregular pulse or rhythm maybe due to an abnormality in the heart electrical conduction system (heart arrhythmia). If your heart is too weak to pump blood efficiently (eg heart failure), it may also beat faster to try to keep up. You may feel your heart racing or throbbing.

Tiredness can have many causes. It may be due to simple exhaustion from overworking. However feeling run down can also be a sign of a more serious health problem with your heart. It may be a symptom associated with a weak heart (heart failure). Reduced effort tolerance may also be the result of reduced blood flow, due to narrowings or blockages in the coronary arteries.