All the familiar warning signs that someone is at risk for cardiovascular disease are high blood pressure, stress, and diabetes. But there are other red flags that most of us, including hair loss, or bedroom issues, are not aware of. There's a lot that can be done to avoid cardiovascular harm early on by paying attention to risk factors and using them as signals to make healthy improvements in your life, says Dr. Rene Alvarez, associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Cardiovascular Institute. Here are six rare heart attack signs—and what you should do to protect yourself.
1. Dysfunction of sex
When you cuddle next to your significant other, heart failure may be the last thing on your mind, but difficulty performing may be a problem for heart health as well as sexual health. Dr. Alvarez says that while sexual dysfunction is different in men and women, the issue that ties it to heart disease is the same: sexual issues can arise when blood vessels do not work well. "If you have dysfunction in one circulatory area you have it in others," he says.
Oh, do this. Deal with both problems. Sexual addiction and heart disease can also be avoided with proper medical therapy and safe lifestyle changes. To overcome these issues, Dr. Alvarez suggests physical exercise and consulting with your doctor about the frequent use of aspirin and your vascular health.
2. Baldness of masculine pattern
According to a link between top rear head balding and cardiovascular disease described in a recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, hair loss is more than a problem of appearance—it can mean loss of circulation. Dr. Alvarez says the lack of hair follicle circulation may be connected to the circulation of the heart, although other factors may play a role in the relation. "Some patients who have male pattern baldness may smoke, have hypertension, or a genetic predisposition relating to heart disease," he says.
Oh, do this. Watch and be conscious. Knowing the past of your family—both baldness and heart disease—can help determine your own risk. It is an added incentive to take action to prevent hypertension and high cholesterol levels, and to avoid or stop smoking if either runs in the family.
3. Snoring and Apnea in Sleep
Sawing logs will cause a fight for your heart. A research from Emory University in Atlanta showed that obstructed airways are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in people who have sleep apnea or snore. Dr. Alvarez says that disrupted sleep could be predisposed to high blood pressure and diabetes, all of which lead to heart disease.
Oh, do this. Now, avoid future issues. The good news is that you get plenty of time to take action with this warning sign. "Sleep-disordered breathing typically occurs decades before it's diagnosed, and decades before signs of cardiovascular disease events," Dr. Alvarez says. Take a sleep test and get advice from a doctor to improve the quality of sleep and quality of life if you have these nighttime symptoms, he suggests.
4. The migraines
Headaches can also contribute to heart attacks. According to a report published in June by the American Academy of Neurology, women who experience migraines with visual or sensory disruption at least once a month are twice as likely to develop heart disease. Dr. Alvarez says circulation irregularities can lead to heart attacks that cause serious headaches. "If you find a vascular abnormality in one territory of the body, you're likely to find it in another," he says.
Oh, do this. Keep a warning sign in mind. Speak to your doctor about what your heart can have to say about a migraine. Circulatory disorders everywhere in the body should allow clinicians to also search for other affected areas of the body, Dr. Alvarez says.
5. Plastic for food and drinking
Toss your bottles of plastic water into a recycling container. The chemical bisphenol A (BPA) found in hard plastic food and beverage containers can create an estrogen-like molecule that mimics the effects of estrogen, causing an increased risk for heart disease in women, according to a University of Cincinnati study. BPA "could create too much estrogen or block the effects of its benefits." Dr. Alvarez says.
Oh, do this. Replace # 7 plastic food containers and water bottles with stainless steel, glass, or ceramic ones, the sort likely to contain BPA. If other types of plastic containers are not ready to be banished, make sure you never heat them up, as this may cause other chemicals to spill into their contents.
6. Matrimonial stress
Frequent arguments in your relationship may increase the chances of a real broken heart for a woman. A research from the University of Utah showed that women suffering from marital stress were at risk for additional heart disease symptoms. Differences in hormones and how stress is treated by the sexes can explain why men were not affected similarly. "Women's hearts are very different than men's hearts in terms of circulation and receptors they have for certain hormones," says Dr. Alvarezz,
Take a deep breath and do this. Stress can lead to cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and depression. Dr. Alvarez recommends that individuals with stress management issues may seek assistance with coping. "We all have stress and how we respond is very different, but there are methods to deal with your perception of stress and limit it," he says. Try stress-reduction tactics such as daily exercise, meditation, and relaxation in mindfulness. Discuss the choice of marital advice with your partner for relationship-related stress.