
Are You on the Heart Attack FAST TRACK?
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.)
- 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.
- 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.
View More Free Articles
Doctor-Approved Method to Ditch Blood Pressure Meds
In a world where drug solutions dominate healthcare, it’s refreshing to discover that best remedies sometimes don’t involve a single pill. A groundbreaking study shows simple relaxation techniques could be your secret weapon against one of America’s deadliest health conditions. Best of all? It’s free, easy to start right away—and your results are bound to...
Trouble Hearing? Your Heart Could Be at Risk
With research exploding and data pouring in, scientists are uncovering some weird (and surprisingly helpful) health connections. Today’s odd couple? Hearing loss and heart failure. Turns out your ears and your ticker are more connected than you ever imagined. A major study published in the journal Heart looked at over 164,000 people for nearly a...
Stay Up Late? It Could Destroy Your Mental Health
If you dread mornings but come alive at night, there’s concerning new research you need to know about. A recent study found that “night owls” are at higher risk for depression. But before you rush to set your alarm to get up with the sun tomorrow, there’s more to the story… Chronotypes are essentially your...
Go from Flabby to Fit with this Common Vitamin
If you’re like many of us, you woke up one day, looked in the mirror, and realized you’re no spring chicken anymore. Even worse—when you weren’t paying attention—it seems you somehow misplaced the muscles of your youth and have gone from fit to flabby. Aging has a way of humbling us like that. But scientists...
Seasonal Allergy “Off Switch” Discovered in the GUT
“Doc, why am I suddenly suffering from seasonal allergies when I’ve never had them before?” It’s a question I get all the time—and my answer might surprise you. Stop looking up at the trees—and start looking down at your gut… Your sneezing fits, itchy eyes, and runny nose might have more to do with what’s...
“Canary in the Coal Mine” Test Sniffs Out Brain Issues Early
One of the most common questions I get is how to tell if you’re starting to experience cognitive decline. I get it—losing your memory is scary, especially when it sneaks up on you. But here’s some exciting news that might put your mind at ease. A fascinating new study suggests that your nose might be...
BEAT Stubborn Leg Swelling Without Dangerous Diuretics
“I need help with edema.” —Swollen Hi Swollen, When patients complain of edema—fluid retention that causes feet, ankles, and legs to swell—I explain that, while conventional medicine immediately prescribes diuretic drugs, nature offers us effective solutions we can try first. I’ll share those in just a moment, but first, let’s take a quick look at...
Mental Health Linked to 30% FASTER Aging [6-Step FIX]
Your mind and body are more connected than you might realize—and a groundbreaking new study proves just how profound that connection really is. In fact, it’s this mind-body link that helps explain why battling depression can put you on the fast track to physical decline. Depression is the most common mental health condition worldwide. We’ve...
The Air You Breathe Is Silently Stealing Your Memory
You already know that air pollution damages your lungs. Chances are you’ve heard it can also harm your heart. And I bet you won’t be surprised when I tell you it claims millions of lives annually. But now, alarming new research suggests polluted air might also damage your brain. This study found that long-term exposure...
Get Intermittent Fasting Benefits Without Going Hungry
Intermittent fasting, which involves cycling between eating and fasting periods, is effective. There’s plenty of evidence for that. It’s not just weight loss, either. Intermittent fasting has significant benefits for metabolic health. However, many people find fasting difficult to stick to—and others can’t do it at all due to medical issues—so they miss out on...