Heart disease risk factor determined by your socks and ankles – signs you need to recognize

Many people associate heart disease with obvious symptoms like chest pain. However, there are also some not-so-obvious early warning signs to be aware of

Heart disease is caused by a blockage or slowing down of the blood supply by a buildup of fatty tissue in the arteries.

It’s one of the UK’s biggest killers in terms of disease groups, with someone dying every few minutes from some form of heart disease.

The British Heart Foundation says: “Heart and vascular disease accounts for a quarter of all deaths in the UK, that’s more than 160,000 deaths a year – an average of 460 deaths a day, or one every three minutes in the UK.”

Given these worrying statistics, doing whatever it takes to reduce your risk of contracting a potentially life-threatening condition should be on your agenda — including recognizing any unusual warning symptoms.

edema

Water retention in the feet and legs is medically referred to as peripheral edema.

When a person has this condition, “sock stains” may be apparent.

It’s when you can take your socks off and see distinctive lines running from where the socks were and down your ankles.

Mild peripheral edema is common but can also indicate serious heart problems.

Health experts warn that edema can be a sign of heart failure because when the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should, fluid from the blood vessels tends to leak into the surrounding tissues.

The legs and ankles are common areas for edema due to the effects of gravity.

It’s important to note that most people with peripheral edema don’t have heart disease, but it could be a key indicator of potential heart problems and other signs of heart failure.

Edema can be caused by a variety of conditions, some of which are transient and completely harmless, such as: B. swollen ankles during pregnancy or swelling of hands and feet during a flight due to water retention.

“Persistent problems with edema, however, could be a signal that your heart isn’t working properly,” Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists said.

It added: “A more serious cause of peripheral edema is congestive heart failure, a condition in which your heart is too weak to pump blood efficiently.”

Symptoms of heart failure

Other signs of heart failure include:

• A persistent cough that may be worse at night
• gasping
• A bloated stomach
• loss of appetite
• weight gain or weight loss
• confusion
• A fast heart rate
• A pounding, fluttering, or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)

How to reduce your risk of heart failure

Regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight are key factors in preventing heart failure.

Other healthy behaviors include not smoking, eating fruits and vegetables, and moderating your alcohol consumption.

If you’re concerned about unusual swelling or mild problems with your heart, talk to your GP about the best course of action.