Expert highlights unmistakable symptom of heart disease

Brits are being urged to look out for the telltale signs of a deadly disease, as the number of people awaiting heart care in England rose to a record high. According to the latest NHS figures, cardiac waiting lists rose to 421,433 at the end of May this year.

This is an increase of 2,394 on the previous month and the highest total on record. The heart care waiting list has grown by nearly 100,000 people since May 2022, when the waiting list was at 327,258 – a staggering rise of 29 percent.

This has been branded “frightening” by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which is now calling for the Government to prioritise cardiovascular disease treatment.

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, BHF associate medical director and consultant cardiologist, said: “I find it frightening that long waits for time-critical heart care are putting people at risk of life-long disabling heart failure or death.

“That’s why it’s so disheartening to see the latest figures continue to show the worst access to vital, timely heart care in living memory. We cannot and must not get used to these unacceptable figures showing too many heart patients waiting too long.

“Getting to grips with this cardiovascular disease crisis and getting back to gold standard heart disease prevention, early diagnosis and treatment must be a priority for our new Government if they want to avert yet more avoidable heartbreak and loss of life.”

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the UK, accounting for around a quarter of all fatalities.

It is the general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels including coronary heart disease, strokes and peripheral arterial disease.

To help people spot if they are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, the BHF listed 10 warning signs to look for.

Chest pain

If your chest pain carries on despite resting for a few minutes and you feel extremely unwell, you should call 999 “as soon as possible”, the BHF says.

During a heart attack this pain may feel like heaviness, tightness or pressure in the chest.

If the pain goes away after a few minutes of resting, you may have angina, and you should see your GP.

Stomach pain like indigestion

According to the BHF, a painful or burning feeling in your chest or stomach can be a sign of a heart attack or related heart problem.

Arm, jaw or back pain

If you’re having a heart attack, pain may also spread to other parts of your body. This includes your arm, jaw, neck or back.

It’s more likely to be a heart attack if the pain is going down your arm, especially your left arm or into your neck.

Feeling sweaty

You should call 999 for an ambulance if you start to feel hot and clammy along with chest pains, as it could be a heart attack.

Choking feeling 

According to the BHF, angina can sometimes cause a feeling of tightness or pain up in the throat like a restricting or choking sensation.

If this feeling doesn’t go away you should call 111.

Feeling sick

If you suddenly start feeling sick and notice pain in your chest as well, it could be another sign that you’re having a heart attack.

Swollen ankles

Swollen ankles, or oedema, are fairly common and have many different causes including hot weather and certain medication.

But they can also be a marker of heart failure as it could mean your heart is not pumping blood properly around the body.

Leg pain

A “gripping, cramping” feeling in your calves when you are walking is a sign of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) caused by the legs not receiving enough blood.

Extreme fatigue

Feeling tired can be caused by many factors including your lifestyle and various health issues. However, it is also a sign of heart failure.

Palpitations

Becoming aware of your own heartbeat and feeling like it is racing and missing beats is known as palpitations.

They can be caused by things like stress, caffeine or hormonal changes.

But if your heart is going very fast and jumping around erratically, then that’s when you should see your GP.