Your body is an amazing instrument that is well equipped with tools that make you know when things are running smoothly or not. When you’re healthy, your body will tell you by making you feel good about yourself and giving you the boost of energy to use for your daily survival. But once it senses something isn’t right, it gives you warning signs that make you feel uncomfortable and uneasy.
Failing to listen to subtle or sometimes unsubtle bodily cues can lead to problems you may regret later. Even major diseases like high blood pressure and heart failures start as minor problems. But because you’re unable to give your body’s cues importance, they lead to greater problems and even death.
Men in their forties are advised to have a regular yearly check up to ensure health and longevity. The more a man advances in age, the more he is prone to debilitating disease like heart failure.
However, due to the lifestyle brought about by the rise in technology, men who get serious health problems are getting younger and younger. If this is you, you need not worry because your body will let you know when something wrong is happening within. You only need to listen to your body when something unusual occurs.
Here are the warning signs to watch for:
1. Physical exhaustion
Feeling totally exhausted after a hard day’s work is normal. A lack of proper sleep can also leave you feeling tired. But when you have rested completely and haven’t exerted any effort that can cause you to feel exhausted, take this as a signal that says you need to see your doctor.
Your heart’s left ventricle is the major muscle that pumps blood from your heart to the rest of the body. When it fails to function properly, you’re at a greater risk for a heart attack. Failure to give your body proper blood circulation is the main cause for feeling exhausted. It’s because the blood that is supposedly circulated throughout the body will be directed to more vital organs like the heart and brain.
2. Erectile dysfunction
One sign to watch for is what’s happening down there. Your penis needs enough blood to get firmer and harder erections. When there’s isn’t enough supply of blood, it would be hard to get an erection or maintain one when aroused.
It’s not a cause for worry when this happens after your body goes through stressful situations, either physically or mentally. You can manage your stress by calming your nerves and mind and giving your body enough sleep. When the problem continues to occur after proper relaxation, something serious might be happening within your system.
Erectile dysfunction occurs when the blood vessels in your penis have been damaged. When the vessels down there fail, there’s a big chance the blood vessels near your heart are problematic too.
3. Cramps in hip or leg
A plaque buildup around the major blood vessels of your heart causes the arteries to narrow and can result in poor blood supply to your limbs, stomach, and head. Not having enough supply of blood to the legs gives you discomfort. The symptoms can include cramps and a feeling of burning sensation in your calves that deliberately moves up to your thighs. You may find it difficult to walk to normal distances. You may take a few paces but have to stop and take some rest. Don’t ignore this warning sign because it could mean a peripheral artery disease is imminent.
4. Snoring problems
When you have heart problems, two things can happen during your sleep: your room companion will complain about your unusual loud snoring or you wake up in the middle of your sleep gasping for air. This can be a problem of sleep apnea. It’s a serious sleep disorder marked by breathing interruptions during sleep.
When left untreated, sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing many times during your sleep. Not having enough supply of oxygen due to irregular breathing can result in serious health problems, like heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and others.
5. Bloating
Bloating can be caused by many things. Eating salty foods can make you feel bloated. It can also be caused by other problems, such as chronic gut disorders. But when it’s accompanied by swelling in the legs, feet, ankles, and stomach, contact your doctor immediately because it might be a case of congested heart failure.
The swelling is caused by fluid buildup due to the heart’s inability to properly pump blood throughout the body. Gaining weight fast is another symptom of this heart problem.
6. Stomach problems
Nausea, indigestion and constant burping can be symptoms for a variety of health problems. These can either be stomach flu or much worse, a heart problem.
Because the nerves in the gastrointestinal tract are closely intertwined with the heart’s nerves, your body can sometimes send signals relating to stomach problems even when the problem is in the heart. You can only know it’s caused by problems in the heart when nausea gets worse as you move more.
7. Anxiety
You normally feel anxious when in a stressful situation. However, when under normal conditions and you suddenly feel pains in the chest, shortness of breath, and faster heartbeat, it can be a signal for heart problems.
These same symptoms, together with feelings of lightheadedness, sweating, and discomfort in the arms, neck, or jaw, can be warning signs of an impending heart attack. Call 911 immediately when you feel something is not right.
Most heart attack cases occur because the patients fail to recognize their body’s warning cues. Even if you feel only a few of these symptoms or warning signals, consulting your doctor is still the best option.
Your body is working with you and not against you. That’s why it sends symptoms that can make you feel uncomfortable. So, don’t ignore what your body is telling you. Give it proper self-care and listen to what it says. And when you feel something out of the ordinary is taking place, don’t hesitate to take the right action. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
