Chest pain is a well-known warning sign of heart disease, but there is another symptom to watch for when it comes to cardiovascular problems.
It may appear gradually, disrupt daily tasks, or even wake you up at night.
The symptom is uncomfortable, but can still be considered something minor. That shouldn’t be the case, doctors say.
Heart Health Tip of the Day: Don’t Ignore Shortness of Breath
Also known as dyspnea, shortness of breath is a symptom to worry about, especially if it’s triggered by simple daily activities, board-certified surgeon Dr. Cedrek McFadden cautioned.
“It’s very underrated,” McFadden told TODAY. “A lot of people say, ‘I’m just not in good shape right now.’ But these are people who may have gone from walking easily to becoming out of breath just from running errands around the house or even avoiding the stairs altogether.
Why it matters
Shortness of breath can occur when the heart is not working properly. This may be one of the symptoms of a heart attack or indicate heart failure.
Heart failure occurs when the heart is too weak to pump as it should or cannot fill with enough blood, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
If you find that you’re short of breath to the point that you can’t finish your sentences or can’t wake up at night out of breath, that’s a problem that should be checked out, especially if you also have swelling in your ankles, McFadden said.
Lower extremity swelling can occur when blood flow slows due to a weaker heart and backs up through the leg veins, according to the National Library of Medicine.
“If you have swelling accompanied by shortness of breath, you should also talk to your doctor. Your heart may not be working efficiently,” McFadden noted.
How to get started
Pay attention to how your body responds to everyday activities like climbing the stairs or walking to the mailbox. Do you feel very out of breath or do you even have to stop halfway and take a break? Does the feeling get progressively worse? Inform your doctor.
“I find that as a doctor, one of the most helpful questions when someone comes in and says they’re short of breath, I say, think again: Could you do this earlier this summer or last summer, and now you can’t? » Dr. Sharonne Hayes, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, previously told TODAY.com.
If so, it may be time for a cardiac evaluation, she noted.
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