Having clogged arteries is a serious and potentially life-threating condition that can lead to a wide array of heart problems. Since 80 percent of heart conditions are preventable with lifestyle changes, these five early warning signs of clogged categories may help with early detection.
Atherosclerosis is a serious condition of clogged arteries due to fatty substances known as plagues. More than 700,00 people in the U.S. suffer from heart attacks each year while 400,000 people die due to coronary heart disease.
1. Severe baldness
In a new study that observed 37,000 men, severe baldness,especially at the crown of the head, was strongly linked to coronary heart disease. In a similar study of more than 7,000 men and women, moderate to severe baldness increased the risk of heart disease by double, according to Reader's Digest.
2. Calf pain
Pain and cramps in the leg are known as claudication, which is typically caused by an obstruction of the leg arteries. Typically, these blockages occur in smokers before coronary heart disease is diagnosed. Doctors typically examine pulses in the legs to help measure leg blood pressure and blood flow to confirm any poor circulation.
3. Irregular heartbeats and heart palpitations
Abnormal heartbeats could be an early warning sign of clogged arteries, according to Natural News. The heart starts to pump faster when it does not receive enough blood due to the blockage.
This can eventually cause an irregular and rapid heart rate that can lead to chest pain and dizziness. Similarly, heart palpitations accompanied by dizziness, sweating, nausea, blurred vision, vomiting, abdominal pain and chest pain can be warning signs of clogged arteries.
4. Excessive sweating
Excessive sweating in cool temperatures even during nighttime is a possible warning sign of clogged arteries. Sweating profusely without engaging in strenuous activities means that the heart is trying to work harder to pump the blood through the clogged arteries.
5. Erectile dysfunction
When blood flow to the penis is reduced, erectile dysfunction occurs which may be an early warning sign of clogged arteries. A study concluded that screening men with erectile dysfunction for potential heart conditions could prevent about a million hearts attacks or strokes in the next 20 years.
