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Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Silent Symptom Most People Don't Realize Could Be a Heart Issue, According to Cardiologists
The Silent Symptom Most People Don't Realize Could Be a Heart Issue, According to Cardiologists originally appeared on Parade. Heart attacks are often conveyed as sudden, obvious and marked by horrible chest pain. However, cardiologists are ringing the alarm: Heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues can often sneak up on us, largely because we don't know all of the symptoms we might experience."We often think of a heart attack as a crushing chest pain or pressure in the middle of the chest, but there are times when heart disease feels different," shares , a board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center.🩺 💊 So many people are at risk for—and will experience—cardiovascular disease during their lifetimes. The American Heart Association's 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update found that heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of U.S. adults, fueled by increases in risk factors like hypertension. Yet cardiologists emphasize that early detection can save lives. They're raising their voices on a silent heart disease symptom they wish more people knew Pain in the jaw or neck without chest discomfort can be an early warning sign of heart problems, explains a cardiologist with Vital Heart & Vein in Houston. Dr. Kee adds that the pain can also present in the shoulder or arm and says women, older adults and people with chronic conditions like diabetes are especially at high risk for experiencing this commonly overlooked symptom of cardiovascular concerns, including heart also suggests that women are more likely to experience jaw pain with a heart attack (and it's sometimes written off as a toothache). However, one cardiologist shares that it's easy for anyone to overlook these symptoms."Patients may dismiss these symptoms as 'just tension,' but cardiologists are taught to evaluate unexplained discomfort above the waist with concern, particularly in high-risk patients," says , a board-certified cardiologist, the founder of Manhattan Cardiology, Medical Offices of Manhattan and co-founder of talked a lot about heart attacks, but Dr. Ni says jaw and neck pain may also suggest other cardiovascular issues. "There are other heart conditions that can also induce neck and jaw pain, including heart valve issues and heart rhythm problems," Dr. Ni also may not be a heart issue at all. "Just because someone has risk indicators or pain in a typical region does not imply a cardiac cause," Dr. Segal says. "Proper cardiac screening is crucial. Jaw and neck pain can also be caused by muscle strain, tooth infections, and joint or spinal disorders."Related: When the pain is related to heart disease or attacks, there's no structural or physical issue in the neck and jaw. Instead, the mind is misreading signals. "Our internal organs transmit 'pain' via the autonomic nervous system," says , an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health Serwer explains that the autonomic nervous system plays a vital role in numerous functions, including blood pressure and heart rate regulation."When the heart is injured, the autonomic nervous system transmits signals to the brain indicating an injury," Dr. Serwer adds. "The pain is interpreted as referred pain. Referred pain may present as chest, jaw, neck or arm pain." Related: Everyone is different, but Dr. Ni says patients often experience jaw and neck pain on their left sides, which makes sense because that's where the heart is Kee often hears heart-related jaw and neck pain described as: Dull ache or tightness in the lower jaw or throat Pressure-like or heavy sensations Pain radiating to the ear, shoulder or left arm If the pain is a sign of a heart attack, it's tough to say whether the pain means you're about to experience one or the event is already in progress."There is no set period; jaw or neck pain could precede a heart attack by minutes, hours or even days," Dr. Segal explains. "Think of it like a leaking pipe—you might notice a subtle drip, or jaw [and] neck pain, before the pipe bursts. Or you could have a heart attack. The earlier you investigate, the better."Related: When in doubt, Dr. Serwer suggests getting immediate ER care for jaw and neck pain. It could be a sign of a heart attack. "This is especially true for those at an increased risk for having a heart attack—those with diabetes, known coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking or family history," Dr. Serwer says, adding it's better to be safe. Dr. Kee explains that doctors will treat suspected heart attacks immediately, potentially using: Aspirin to reduce clotting Nitroglycerin (a medication) to ease chest discomfort Oxygen and IV medications Cardiac catheterization and angioplasty (a minimally invasive procedure that can open arteries) Stents or bypass surgery, depending on the severity Dr. Kee says the outlook depends on numerous factors, including how quickly treatment begins. "Early recognition of warning signs—even the atypical ones like jaw or neck pain—can drastically improve outcomes," he explains. "Don't wait for chest pain. Your heart could be speaking a different language. Learn to listen." Up Next:Dr. Yu-Ming Ni, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update. American Heart Association. Dr. Patrick Kee, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiologist with Vital Heart & Vein in Houston Orofacial Pain and Toothache as the Sole Symptom of an Acute Myocardial Infarction Entails a Major Risk of Misdiagnosis and Death. Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache (OFPH). Dr. Robert Segal, MD, a board-certified cardiologist, the founder of Manhattan Cardiology, Medical Offices of Manhattan and co-founder of Dr. Bradley Serwer, MD, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company The Silent Symptom Most People Don't Realize Could Be a Heart Issue, According to Cardiologists first appeared on Parade on Jun 1, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Common Food Was Just Linked to Heart Disease, Parkinson's
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Two new studies on ultra-processed foods link them to a higher risk of developing heart disease and Parkinson's disease. Ultra-processed foods make up around 70 percent of America's food supply, so they're hard to eliminate entirely. Eating too much could impact your heart and brain health by increasing inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. If you haven't stayed up-to-date on health news lately, here's a quick headline for you: Ultra-processed foods aren't so great for your health. In fact, studies have linked them to a slew of health issues, including diabetes and cancer risk, and having a lot of ultra-processed foods in your diet can even potentially make you age faster. But up to 70 percent of the food supply in America is made up of these products, making them tough to entirely avoid. Still, it's never a bad idea to take a step back to assess what you're eating on a daily basis, especially when we're still learning about how ultra-processed foods could affect us. Case in point: Two recent studies have found an association between eating ultra-processed foods and a higher risk of developing heart disease and Parkinson's disease. Given how life-altering each of these conditions can be, it's understandable to have concerns. Here's what dietitians and doctors want you to keep in mind. Meet the experts: Keri Gans, RDN, CDN, nutrition consultant and host of The Keri Report; Jessica Cording, RD, author of The Little Book of Game-Changers: 50 Healthy Habits For Managing Stress & Anxiety; Sonya Angelone, RD, a nutritionist and registered dietitian based in San Francisco, California; Cheng-Han Chen, MD, an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA; Daniel Truong, MD, neurologist and medical director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. The heart disease study isn't published yet, but it was presented at the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting in May. The scientific review analyzed data from 8,286,940 adults across 41 studies that looked at the link between ultra-processed foods and health issues. The researchers found a link between ultra-processed foods and high blood pressure, cardiovascular events (like a heart attack), cancer, digestive diseases, and dying from any cause. Each extra 100 grams (3.5 ounces) a day of ultra-processed foods was linked with a 14.5 percent higher risk of high blood pressure, 5.9 percent increased risk of cardiovascular events, 1.2 percent increased risk of cancer, 19.5 percent higher risk of digestive diseases and 2.6 percent higher risk of dying from any cause, according to the findings. There was also a link between eating ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and depression or anxiety. 'Reducing ultra-processed foods intake, even modestly, may offer measurable health benefits,' study co-author Xiao Liu, MD, a cardiologist at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, said in a statement. This study was published in the journal Neurology and analyzed data from nearly 43,000 people with an average age of 48 who didn't have Parkinson's disease at the start of the study. The participants were followed for 26 years, during which time they completed regular medical exams, filled out food diaries, and answered health questionnaires. The researchers divided the participants into five groups based on how much ultra-processed foods they ate per day. They discovered that people who ate 11 or more servings of ultra-processed foods a day had a 2.5 times higher risk of having three or more early signs of Parkinson's disease than those who had less than three servings a day. (Those early signs included things like rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, constipation, depressive symptoms, body pain, impaired color vision, excessive daytime sleepiness, and a reduced ability to smell.) It's important to point out that what the researchers counted as a "serving" can really add up. Like, one tablespoon of ketchup is a serving, and so is an ounce of potato chips. While the study didn't find that ultra-processed foods caused people to develop Parkinson's disease, the researchers pointed out that these early symptoms tend to come before a Parkinson's disease diagnosis. There are a few potential biological things going on here that could be resulting in this data that links ultra-processed foods with heart and brain health issues. 'It is thought that ultra-processed foods affect cardiovascular health through multiple mechanisms, including promotion of inflammation, increasing oxidative stress, and increasing insulin resistance,' explains Cheng-Han Chen, MD, an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA. This can cause damage to blood vessels, create a build-up of plaque in your arteries—and raise the risk of heart attack or stroke, he explains. But despite the health risks, ultra-processed foods can be hard to resist, says Daniel Truong, MD, neurologist and medical director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. They 'rapidly stimulate the brain's reward system, similar to addictive substances like nicotine and alcohol,' per Dr. Truong. As a result, you may end up eating a lot of these foods, raising the risk of health issues in the process. A big potential issue with ultra-processed foods is that they tend to crowd out healthier options, says Jessica Cording, MS, RD, author of The Little Book of Game-Changers: 50 Healthy Habits For Managing Stress & Anxiety. 'If [a person is] eating a lot of ultra-processed foods that don't offer much in the way of nutrients but contain a lot of calories, it can set them up for adverse health issues,' she says. Plus, these foods have been associated with higher risk of cancer, digestive problems, depression, anxiety, and diabetes, says Sonya Angelone, RD, a nutritionist based in San Francisco, CA. 'There is a dose-response relationship between these foods and poor health, which means the more ultra-processed foods you eat, the greater the risk for negative health,' she adds. But there's some good news: 'Reducing these foods even a little bit with less processed whole foods can provide some health improvements," says Dr. Angelone. That's why it's so crucial to focus on whole foods when building out your diet, says Keri Gans, RDN, CDN, nutrition consultant and host of The Keri Report. 'Instead of obsessing over what to cut out of our diets, we should think more about adding more plant-based foods, such as 100 percent whole grains, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, and legumes,' she says. Cording says there's no need to panic if you have some ultra-processed foods in your diet, given that they're almost impossible to completely avoid. But focusing on sourcing the bulk of your diet from whole foods could make a big difference in your overall health. 'Just do your best,' she says. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
