Are You on the Heart Attack FAST TRACK?

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted August 5, 2020

Dear Reader, 

About half of those who suffer a heart attack didn’t even know they had heart problems to begin with! 

And a heart attack is definitely NOT the way you want to find out your ticker isn’t in tip-top shape….  

Now, if you’ve been following me for a while, chances are you’ve learned a few natural, healthy tricks to give your heart the extra TLC it needs.  

But even still, it can be hard to know if any symptoms you’re experiencing are actually your body trying to sound an alarm.  

Is your heart in danger? 

No one wants to be the person grabbing their chest, struggling to breathe while counting the secondsbefore the ambulance arrives. 

So let’s go over some red flags that will help you spot potential heart problems and possibly avoid a heart attack altogether.  

There’s one pre-existing condition in particular that should be a major red flag when it comes to your heart health: sleep apnea.  

Sleep apnea is when your breath pauses during sleep (typically while snoring). This is obviously bad because it reduces the amount of oxygen going to your whole body and brain.  

Most people have no clue this is happening, instead they have to rely on their bed partner (or a sleep study) to find out they have apnea. If you think you may have sleep apnea, it’s best to talk with your healthcare provider to get yourself tested. 

Beyond sleep apnea there are many other signs that your heart may be headed toward the danger zone: 

1. Yellow orange bumpy rash: Some people have very high triglyceride levels, and this can cause your skin to break out around your knuckles, fingers and toes as well as your backside. Check the internet for pictures, or consult your healthcare provider if you are concerned.  
2. Poor grip strength: This is surprising, but the strength of your hand may tell you something about the strength in your heart. Research suggests that the ability to strongly squeeze something means alower risk of heart disease. 
3. Little dark spots under your nails: these little blood spots sometimes appear in people who have diabetes, and they are two to four times more likely to have heart disease and strokes. 
4. Lightheadedness: Feeling dizzy usually happens because you’re not getting enough blood to your brain. You might experience this if you stand up too quickly. But if lightheadedness happens a lot, it is a concern. It could be the result of an arrhythmia (abnormal rhythm of the heart) but it can also happen in heart failure where the muscles at the heart become weak. 
5. Problems in bed: This especially applies to men with erectile dysfunction. Why? Because in order to get a proper erection, blood flow is essential. Poor blood flow in the sexual organs means poor blood flow everywhere. In the same sense, women with low libido can also have low blood flow problems. 
6. Bleeding gums: Bleeding gums means that there is an infection moving down between your teeth into your gums. This increases inflammation throughout the body, which puts people at a more risk for a heart attack. 
7. Dark skin patches on your body: These thick spots, called acanthosis nigricans (once again, search for pictures), form in skin folds and creases such as your neck, armpits, and groin when your body has trouble using the hormone insulin. 
8. Trouble breathing: Feeling short of breath during normal, everyday activities could be a symptom of heart failure, heart attack or heart rhythm problems. If something that used to be easy suddenly becomes hard, it’s a RED flag! (Though ANY trouble breathing is reason enough to give your doctor a call.) 
9. Swelling of legs or hands: This means fluid is building up. It can stem from either poor circulation or heart failure. Swollen legs can also form a clot. 
10. Fatigue: Now fatigues is a general symptom which makes it hard to pin specifically heart disease.(Since many diseases can make you tired: anemia, cancer, and even depression.) The thing to note is, when your heart gets worse and no longer pumps enough to meet your body’s needs, you can feel particularly tired. 

Whether or not you have any of these symptoms, the time to take care of your heart is today. Also, make sure you are eating well, exercising and taking the right supplements to support heart health. 

 P.S. If you are worried about any of these symptoms, make an appointment to see your health care provider. If you have trouble breathing, a racing heart, or any chest pain then seek care immediately.  

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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