Heart disease is the leading cause of death among the American population. According to Steven Nissen, MD, the chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, this disease is difficult to spot since most commonly the first symptom is a heart attack or sudden death.
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Signs of a Heart Problem
Dr. Nissen claims that testing the blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels is the only preventive measure for heart problems.
Nevertheless, a recent research has established a number of odd symptoms that might indicate that you are exposed to the risk of a heart disease. Here are 4 unusual signs of a heart problem, which require an immediate medical examination.
Feeling Dizzy When You Stand Up
The experts refer to the feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness when you stand up suddenly as orthostatic hypotension.
For most people, this feeling lasts for a couple of seconds. But, if it persists for a few minutes, and if you are less than 55 years old, it might be a sign of an underlying blood flow problem.
According to a research from the University of North Carolina, the people who experience this type of prolonged dizziness have an increased risk of heart failure by 54%.
Bad Breath
Bad breath is usually caused by gum disease. However, a research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found out that this can also be a symptom of a heart problem.
According to the authors of the research, gum disease causes inflammation, which leads to a heart disease. The research has also shown that by treating the gum disease, you will reduce the risk of a heart problem.
Clear Skin during Your Teen Years
According to a study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the people who had acne during their teenage years have a reduced risk of heart disease by 33%.
The acne flare-ups during adolescence are triggered by higher circulating levels of testosterone. The study found out that the high testosterone levels will protect you against a heart disease later in life.
A Stubby Ring Finger
A series of studies, conducted at the University of Liverpool, UK, have concluded that the people whose ring finger is the same length as their index finger have an increased risk of developing a heart disease in their 40s and 50s, compared to those whose ring finger is longer than their index finger.
Longer ring fingers are associated with greater fetal testosterone exposure, which is linked to lower rates of heart disease among men.
Nevertheless, the authors of the study say that the connection is not as strong when it comes to the female population.