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You might wake up feeling perfectly fine, with no signs of illness, yet your arteries could already be partially blocked and your heart quietly under pressure. Blocked arteries often don’t show symptoms until something severe happens—like a heart attack or stroke.
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Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for nearly 18 million deaths globally every year, mostly affecting individuals unaware they’re in danger.
Being aware of the following nine symptoms—some of which may seem minor or unrelated—can help you spot trouble early and possibly save your life.
1. Chest discomfort or pain
One of the most common red flags is pressure, tightness, or discomfort in the chest, known as angina.
This is usually caused by atherosclerosis, where plaque made of fat, cholesterol, and calcium builds up inside artery walls. As plaque hardens and narrows the arteries, it restricts blood flow to the heart.
When the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen—especially during physical or emotional stress—it triggers pain that can extend to the neck, shoulders, back, or arms.
This pain isn’t relieved by antacids and tends to come on during activity and fade during rest. In some cases, a plaque rupture can cause a clot and lead to a heart attack. Never dismiss chest pain like this.
2. Unusual shortness of breath
Struggling to catch your breath after mild effort, such as walking upstairs, may point to insufficient oxygen circulation due to narrowed arteries.
A stressed heart has difficulty keeping up with demand, and this can even cause breathing difficulties when resting or lying down.
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In advanced stages, people may wake up at night gasping or need to sleep propped up. This signals that the heart is struggling to deliver enough blood, even to the lungs.
3. Chronic, unexplained fatigue
Fatigue linked to poor circulation is deep and persistent—it doesn’t improve with sleep. It’s not simple tiredness but complete exhaustion, making basic tasks feel overwhelming.
This occurs because when oxygen delivery drops, your body prioritizes vital organs and reduces energy elsewhere.
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This kind of fatigue is often overlooked or blamed on age or stress, but if it continues unchecked, it can significantly affect your daily life.
