Why Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease Often Go Unnoticed

Learning that you or a loved one has coronary heart disease can be worrying and anxiety-provoking, especially when no symptoms are present. Silent heart disease can happen when a person develops the condition without noticing the symptoms. 

You may not realise you have a heart condition until you experience a heart attack or stroke. Today, we’ll explore why symptoms of coronary heart disease often go unnoticed. 

What Is Chronic Heart Disease?

Chronic heart disease is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects your heart function repeatedly and over time. It is a major cause of death in the UK, often being missed by individuals experiencing symptoms. 

There are many types of chronic heart disease, including:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
  
• Congenital heart disease (CHD)
  
• Heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
  
• Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
• Pulmonary arterial hypertension
• Valvular heart disease
• Heart failure

To learn more about heart health and next steps, read our helpful guide on managing heart failure at home. 

How Can Coronary Heart Disease Remain Silent?

Silent chronic heart disease develops like other forms of heart disease, with one key difference being that there are no obvious symptoms. Blockages can develop in the heart’s arteries from plaque or cholesterol deposits, leading to insufficient blood flow to the heart.  

Silent chronic heart disease causes the heart to work harder and forces it to adapt to less-than-optimal conditions. This can cover possible warning signs that only become apparent when the blockage causes a heart attack. It may also adapt to reduced blood flow by developing new pathways, called collateral circulation. 

Symptoms may not develop if blockages aren’t severe enough, or if you lead an inactive lifestyle. You may incorrectly assume subtle signs, such as fatigue or mild discomfort, are due to ageing or stress. 

What Are the Symptoms of Silent Coronary Heart Disease?

While many people assume heart disease always appears as dramatic chest pain and severe symptoms. Many individuals experience subtle, overlooked symptoms that can signal underlying issues. 

Silent symptoms of chronic heart disease can include: 

• Fatigue and shortness of breath: Unusual fatigue, even with minimal activity, or shortness of breath can be a warning sign. This could manifest as feeling winded after climbing stairs, needing to rest while walking, or shortness of breath while lying down.
• Chest discomfort: You may experience tightness, pressure, squeezing or a burning sensation in your chest, upper back, arms, jaw or neck. This discomfort can be intermittent, mild or even mistaken for indigestion. Chest pain doesn’t always need to be severe to indicate that something is wrong.
• Palpitations: Feeling your heart racing, fluttering, or skipping beats can indicate an irregular heartbeat, a common symptom of underlying heart problems.
• Unexplained sweating: Excessive sweating, especially at night or when you’re not exerting yourself, can be a symptom of health conditions. This includes heart problems, such as chronic heart disease.
• Swelling in the ankles or feet: Fluid build-up in the legs, ankles and feet can be a sign of heart failure, especially when the heart is failing to pump blood properly.
• Sleep disturbances: If you find yourself struggling to fall asleep, frequently waking up during the night, or feeling excessively tired despite getting enough sleep, your doctor may want to check your heart. There are plenty of reasons for sleep disturbances, so silent chronic heart disease isn’t the only explanation or reason to panic.
• Indigestion or nausea: In certain cases, heart problems can look like indigestion and nausea. This often leads to discomfort and uneasiness. Again, there could be many reasons for these symptoms, so indigestion alone may not be a cause for concern.
• Dizziness or feeling lightheaded: Feeling dizzy or lightheaded, especially upon standing, can be a symptom of decreased blood flow to the brain and may indicate underlying heart issues.

Who Is at Risk for Silent Coronary Heart Disease?

Some people are more at risk of chronic heart disease than others.

Factors that increase your risk include: 

• High blood pressure: Hypertension can put strain on your heart and damage your arteries.
  
• High cholesterol: High levels of cholesterol can lead to plaque build up in your arteries.
  
• Diabetes: Diabetes affects your blood vessels, which raises your risk of heart disease.
  
• Smoking: Research has shown that smoking can damage your blood vessels and raise your risk of heart disease.
  
• Obesity: High body weight can put stress on your heart and play a role in high blood pressure, and increase your risk of diabetes.
  
• Lack of exercise: A sedentary lifestyle weakens your heart and may lead to poor circulation.
  
• Family history: If your family has a history of chronic heart disease or other heart conditions, you may be at an increased risk of developing it yourself.
  
• Age and gender: Studies have shown that men over the age of 45 and women over the age of 55 are at higher risk of chronic heart disease.
  
• Stress: Chronic stress can harm your health and strain your heart, making it more susceptible to damage. 

How Can You Reduce Your Risk of Chronic Heart Disease?

Chronic heart disease can be life-threatening and extremely worrying for you and your loved ones.

There are several ways you can significantly reduce your risk of developing heart disease, including: 

• Maintain a healthy weight: Calculate your ideal body weight based on your age, gender, and height, and work to maintain it by living well.
  
• Manage stress: Practice mindfulness and stress-relieving techniques, such as yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises.
  
• Quit smoking: Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your heart health.
  
• Limit alcohol consumption: Consume alcohol mindfully, if at all. No alcohol is the best option if you’re concerned about heart health.
  
• Eat well: Focus on eating a heart healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Limit saturated and trans fats, cholesterol and sodium.
  
• Increase physical activity: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. 

Book a Heart Health Check-Up

Worrying about heart health shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’re concerned or want to ease your fears, the quickest way to do so is to book a check-up with your GP.

This may include:

• Medical history review: Your doctor may discuss your family history, lifestyle and habits, and any existing medical conditions you’re concerned about.
  
• Physical examination: They’ll check your blood pressure and heart rate and listen to your heart and lungs.
  
• Blood tests: They may order several blood tests to check your cholesterol levels, blood sugar and other indicators of heart health.
  
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test records the electrical activity of your heart to provide a better idea of how it’s functioning.
  
• Further tests: Your doctor may refer you to a specialist or order additional tests, depending on your risk factors, such as an echocardiogram or a stress test. 

Talk to Trinity Homecare Today

If your loved one requires home care, chat with one of our friendly care team today. We offer a free, no-obligation enquiry and assessment service and are happy to offer information and advice to help you find the perfect home care solution.

Call us on 0207 183 4884 in confidence for a free, no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.