Heart surgeon issues ‘huge red flag’ that something is wrong
With 25 years of clinical experience, Dr Jeremy London knows a thing or two about ‘red flags’, particularly when he suffered a heart attack just four years ago.
The cardiovascular surgeon, based out of Georgia, US, kept ignoring the biggest sign of a heart attack, which is crushing chest pain.
“Well, the first one's a huge red flag, and that's chest pain, chest tightness, or shortness of breath that's brought on with exertion and relieved with rest,” he revealed in a recent YouTube video.
“This is a sign that you could have a blockage in one of the heart arteries.”
What signs did the doctor experience before his heart attack?
Before heading on a hunting trip with his son, Dr London was experiencing subtle warnings like low energy, fatigue, and occasional heartburn-like symptoms he dismissed as minor issues.
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When he was in a deer stand with his youngest son, the health expert had severe chest pain which brought him to his knees, classic for cardiac ischemia, he says.
Dr London attempted to carry on with the activity and drove back to his home, about an hour away, where the pain gradually settled with rest, a beta-blocker and aspirin.
The red flag of 'crushing chest pain'
The following morning, however, the crushing chest pain returned when he climbed a flight of stairs, and at that point, he could no longer ignore it and contacted a cardiologist friend.
He was forced to undergo cardiac catheterization through his wrist and was found to have a 99 percent blockage in a coronary artery at the back of his heart.
“The next one is passing out or nearly passing out, particularly if it's new,” Dr London adds of the signs to look out for.
“This could be an underlying problem with the electrical system or a valve problem. Three would be increasing fatigue or fatigue out of proportion to the activity. In other words, you used to be able to walk three miles without stopping, now you have to stop and catch your breath.
“Or you go to the grocery store and you come home and you're just bone tired and have to lay down.”
He continued: “And finally would be swelling in both lower extremities.
“What happens when the heart gets weak is fluid backs up in your tissues and it collects in areas of the body where gravity is most effective, and that is in the lower portion of your legs.”
Dr London stresses that ‘none of these things mean you absolutely have problems with your heart, but they do warrant investigation’.
Heart and circulatory diseases cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF). That equates to 'more than 170,000 deaths each year'.
“Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as ischaemic heart disease, is the most common type of heart disease,” the BHF explains.
“It is the most common cause of heart attack and was the single biggest killer of both and men and women worldwide.”
What are the main causes of a heart attack?
The NHS explains that a person is more likely to have a heart attack if they:
- Smoke
- Have high blood pressure
- Have high cholesterol
- Have a close relative who's had a heart attack
- Have diabetes
- Are living with overweight or obesity
And the most common symptoms include:
- Chest pain which may feel like crushing or squeezing on your chest – the pain may also spread to your arm, neck and jaw
- Feeling short of breath
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- Feeling like you have indigestion – you may have a burning feeling in your chest and feel full or bloated
- Sweating
- Pale, blue or grey skin – on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands
If you experience any symptoms of a heart attack or have concerns, ring 999 or contact your local GP or healthcare professional immediately.
Anish Vij