A heart attack is often perceived as a sudden and instantaneous event. However, in reality, the body sends warning signals, and some of them can manifest themselves… in the feet. These seemingly minor, yet significant, symptoms can alert you to impending danger and prompt you to seek medical help in time.
In this article, we will look at what changes in the legs and feet can be a warning sign of heart problems.
🔻 1. Cold or numb toes.
A low temperature in the extremities or a feeling of numbness may indicate poor circulation caused by narrowed arteries. The heart works harder, and blood has difficulty reaching the most distant parts of the body, such as the toes.
What to pay attention to:
Fingers are constantly cold, even in a heated room.
You periodically feel tingling or “pins and needles.”
The skin appears pale or slightly bluish.
🔻 2. Foot pain or cramps when walking.
If you experience foot pain or cramps during physical activity, it could be due to atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by narrowing of the arteries and reduced blood flow. This symptom, called intermittent claudication, often precedes heart attacks.
What to pay attention to:
The pain occurs when walking and disappears at rest.
Cramps occur at night.
There is a feeling of “heaviness” in the legs.
🔻 3. Swelling of the feet and ankles.
Heart failure can cause fluid retention in the lower body. Swelling is especially noticeable in the evening or after prolonged standing.
What to pay attention to:
Traces of socks or shoes that remain for a long time.
Feeling of tension and heaviness.
Symmetrical swelling of both legs.
