The heart is one of our vital organs, responsible for pumping blood around the body. Therefore, any problems with the heart can be dangerous and even fatal.
In the UK heart and circulatory disease is one of the most common causes of death, responsible for around a quarter of all fatalities every year.
Also known as cardiovascular disease, it refers to a range of conditions that affect the heart and circulatory system. This includes coronary heart disease, heart failure and strokes.
As with any dangerous disease, catching the symptoms early on is therefore important.
Many of us are aware of some of the common signs of heart disease that affect the chest such as chest pain and breathlessness. However, there are some other telltale signs that could easily be mistaken for something less serious.
In fact, there are four symptoms of cardiovascular disease that could be misdiagnosed as the flu.
These are:
Fatigue
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) lists “extreme fatigue” as a sign of heart failure and other heart-related conditions.
Professor David Newby, from the BHF, said: “Many of my patients tell me they’re tired, whether they’ve got heart failure or not, whether they’ve got angina or not! It’s a difficult one, because it’s so non-specific.”
Harvard Medical School adds: “A constant, new fatigue also can sometimes signal heart failure (a condition in which the heart fails to pump well) or coronary artery disease.”
But tiredness doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with your heart – it could just be a by-product of staying up late or working long hours.
The BHF recommends: “If you start experiencing extreme tiredness and your lifestyle hasn’t changed, it’s a good idea to chat to your GP.”
Nausea
According to the Mayo Clinic in the US, nausea can be a sign of coronary artery disease. However, it is more common in women than men.
“Women are more likely to have other symptoms along with chest discomfort, such as shortness of breath, nausea and extreme fatigue,” the clinic says.
Fever
Fever is often a tell-tale sign of the flu. But Penn Medicine lists fever as an “early” warning sign of heart failure.
It says: “Heart failure symptoms can range from mild to severe. In the early stages you may experience flu-like symptoms, including fever or chills.”
Heart failure may also cause body aches in the early stages.
Fever is also a sign of myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle.
“Common myocarditis symptoms include flu-like symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain, fever or sore throat,” the Mayo Clinic says.
Sweating
While a certain amount of sweating is normal it could also signal heart disease, according to the BHF.
It adds: “Working up a sweat when you’ve been to the gym or because it’s a really hot day, is nothing to worry about.
“But feeling hot and clammy along with chest pains is a sign that you should call an ambulance.”
