By Jamie Scalici
February is American Heart Health Month, highlighting its vital significance now more than ever. The “new normal” brought by the pandemic has led to increased stress in our lives, and despite the ongoing challenges, heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States.
Here are 9 uncommon symptoms that may signal heart distress.
1. New onset of symptoms during exercise or exertion (such as nausea)
Bob Kiefer, a 75-year-old dedicated surfer from Orange County, began to feel shortness of breath after a morning surfing session in a remote area. Unfortunately, he couldn’t call for help due to a lack of cell service. Fortunately, a film crew nearby was able to summon an ambulance, but by the time he reached the hospital, Bob was in cardiogenic shock.
2. Chest pain that arises during exertion and subsides with rest (angina)
Juan Sosa, a 58-year-old veteran and retired carpenter from Brandon, Florida, experienced chest pain while in quarantine due to COVID-19. The pain intensified, prompting him to visit the emergency room, where he was diagnosed with a massive heart attack. After being transferred to a Tampa hospital, he was found in cardiac arrest and needed CPR and an automated external defibrillator to be revived. During the process, Dr. Hoshedar Tamboli successfully removed a blood clot and placed a stent in Juan’s right coronary artery.
3. Extreme fatigue
Iman Dorty from Columbia, South Carolina, was plagued by debilitating migraines and constant fatigue during her first pregnancy at 28 years old. Despite frequent visits to a local hospital where doctors attributed her symptoms to a challenging but normal pregnancy, she ultimately suffered a severe seizure, two strokes, and discovered her heart was failing.
4. Throat or jaw pain
Dr. Jeff Morray, a retired pediatric anesthesiologist and critical care physician from Seattle, was in good health before the COVID-19 lockdown. To stay active with his gym closed, he began biking but soon experienced chest and jaw pain while pedaling uphill. After consulting a cardiologist, he learned he had lesions in three heart vessels, including the notorious left anterior descending artery, often referred to as the “widow-maker.”
5. Shortness of breath
Kris Kirkman, a 48-year-old husband, father, and businessman from Zachary, Louisiana, began to suffer from severe shortness of breath and abdominal fluid buildup. Despite having a family history of heart disease and living with hypertension for two decades, he rarely saw a doctor. Eventually, his worsening symptoms led his wife to take him to a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
6. Indigestion and heartburn
Ramon Rinkin, a 41-year-old active-duty Chief Navy Yeoman, husband, and father of three, initially dismissed his symptoms of indigestion and heartburn. However, while preparing for work one day, he unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest and collapsed in his bathroom, resulting in cardiogenic shock.
7. Gastrointestinal distress
Sebastian Rojas, 41, living with type 2 diabetes and a family history of heart disease, never imagined he could suffer a heart attack at his age. After returning from paternity leave, he felt gastrointestinal distress during a Zoom call, which led him to urgent care and eventually the hospital, where he discovered multiple blockages in his arteries, including the left anterior descending artery. He was also in cardiogenic shock.
8. Dizziness or lightheadedness
Daniel Gropper, a 59-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, experienced occasional dizziness, which he attributed to aging. However, when a prolonged dizzy spell occurred at work and didn’t resolve quickly, his coworkers called for an ambulance. At the hospital, cardiologists found that his left main artery was blocked, and he was in cardiogenic shock.
9. Nausea
Wendy Canty, 53, from Framingham, Massachusetts, had always prioritized her health. After persistent nausea and dizziness, she was shocked to learn of severe blockages in her heart. She underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. After a difficult two-month recovery, she was able to hug her daughter again. Unfortunately, less than two years later, similar symptoms returned, and her cardiologist revealed that three of the four bypasses had become blocked again, delivering devastating news after her tough recovery.
Fortunately, all these patients received treatment with an innovative medical device called the Impella CP heart pump, the smallest heart pump in the world, enabling their hearts to rest and recover.
Editor’s Note: This content is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and does not constitute medical or other professional advice.
