Subtle Heart Health Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

We all know that we should listen to our body. While it's relatively easy to know whether your body feels up for another mile on your long weekend run or if it needs another hour of sleep when the alarm sounds, some signals are less clear.

That's why RWJ Barnabas Health is recognizing Heart Health Month by raising awareness of common but subtle signs of heart disease:

• Unexpected shortness of breath.
• Feeling unusually tired doing things that once felt easy.
• Dizziness when walking
• Feeling like your heart is racing or skipping beats

In general, if you notice a new symptom or if something just doesn't feel right, don't ignore it. The heart specialists at RWJBarnabas Health can help you understand what’s really going on, and if more advanced care is needed, you can rest assured that RWJBarnabas Health has the largest combined adult and pediatric cardiac surgery program in the state and New Jersey's only heart and lung transplant program.

Of course, regular care is important, too. Your primary care physician can help you determine which heart health screenings are appropriate for you, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes checks. If you don't have a primary care physician, RWJBarnabas can help you with that, too.

To learn more about common screenings at each life stage and RWJBarnabas Health's heart, vascular, and thoracic care, visit rwjbh.org/heart.