Should you be taking a toothache to heart?
Dental issues are among several surprising symptoms of a heart attack, according to Dr. Guruprasad “Guru” Srinivas, director of Cardiac Rehab at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital.
While most people can identify chest pain or pain in the left arm as potential signs of a heart attack, there are some lesser-known issues that could mean you need to head to the ER, stat.
“Heart disease — and more specifically, coronary artery disease — is the leading cause of death in the world. Recognition of these uncommon symptoms can be pivotal in preventing the devastating consequences of heart disease,” Srinivas told The Post.
Srinivas noted that ischemic heart disease, a condition where coronary arteries restrict blood supply to the heart, is a common killer, responsible for about 13% of the world’s deaths in 2023.
Heart attacks spike in the winter because the heart works harder to keep the body warm — and activities like shoveling snow can further strain it. Cold weather can also thicken blood, increasing the risk of blood clots.
The most-reported symptoms include chest pain or constriction and pressure in the left side of the chest that can travel to the left arm. It can also present as a pressure that feels like a weight in the center of the chest.
However, according to Srinivas, many patients — most notably women and diabetics — are more likely to show atypical signs of heart attack.
Tooth pain
While chest pain is a typical sign of heart distress, Srinivas says the warning sign can also manifest as tooth pain as the nerves that supply the teeth and heart share some pathways.
“Sometimes, patients will not have chest pain but describe discomfort in their back or complain of a toothache,” he said.
When the blood supply to the heart is restricted, pain signals can be referred to the teeth. Pain can also present in the arms, back, jaw and abdomen. Typically, the pain is aggravated by exercise and recedes with rest.
Stomach pain and nausea
Srinivas said that some “uncommon or atypical symptoms” include burning abdominal pain and nausea.
Oftentimes, those symptoms are dismissed as heartburn or regular stomach upset but are actually signs of something much more serious.
Sweating and fatigue
Profuse sweating without cause, like heat or exercise, and cold sweats can also be a warning sign from your heart.
Feeling unusually exhausted after slight exertion or even when resting can be an early red flag of heart disease, especially in women.
No symptoms at all
While this slew of symptoms is concerning, Srinivas says the deadliest symptom is the absence of one.
“In many cases, patients will not have any symptoms at all but will present with a silent heart attack,” he said.
“Silent myocardial ischemia or silent heart attacks is defined as the presence of objective evidence of injury to the heart without any symptoms. While chest pain has long been considered the cardinal symptom of heart disease, it is, in fact, no symptom (“silent”) that is the most common manifestation of coronary heart disease.”
Silent myocardial ischemia can only be detected through tests like an ECG, stress test or echocardiogram, making regular screenings crucial.
What you can do to prevent a heart attack
Srinivas emphasizes the importance of identifying patients who are at risk for silent myocardial ischemia and making thoughtful lifestyle choices.
“Leading a heart-healthy lifestyle can go a long way in helping prevent the development of heart disease, as can periodic cardiovascular risk assessments with health care professionals,” he said.
“Furthermore, understanding some of the warning signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease can help patients seek the help they need to combat this deadly disease.”
Exercise is a critical component of that fight as it strengthens the heart muscle, making it more efficient at pumping blood, lowers cholesterol and contributes to weight loss.
According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle strengthening a week.
Meanwhile, smoking and sugar increase the risk.
A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study found that sugar-sweetened beverages increase your risk of heart disease no matter how much you exercise.
And its puff, puff death for smokers, who are nearly twice as likely to have a heart attack as nonsmokers because smoking damages blood vessels, increasing blood pressure and reducing oxygen in the blood.
Anger has also been shown to increase the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke.
