Sweating more than usual could be a sign of an impending heart attack, experts say. Night sweats are also a sign for women that they have heart issues.
It's well-known that heart attacks can be life-threatening and the sight of someone in a TV drama clutching their chest as they struggle for breath is a common one. However, in real life there are several early warning signs to be aware of.
A heart attack happens when part of the organ can't pump because it is dying due to a lack of blood flow. This disrupts the pumping sequence for the whole heart and causes major complications, reports the Mirror.
Health experts warn that sweating more than usual, particularly if not exercising or because of the heat, could indicate early heart problems. The link between sweat and potential heart attacks is due to the body needing to pump more blood through clogged arteries, which takes more effort from the heart.
The body then sweats more to try to keep the body temperature down during the extra exertion. Night sweats are a common warning symptom for women regarding heart issues.
Experiencing night sweats is commonplace during menopause, which many women associate with sweating in bed. However, waking up with your sheets soaked or being unable to sleep due to the sweating could also be a sign of a heart attack, especially in women, warn experts.
“Sweating may also be associated with atherosclerosis, which is a condition where the arteries are narrowed by the build-up of fatty deposits called plaques,” warns Drugs.com
The health site added: “Atherosclerosis can lead to a heart attack and heart failure. When excessive sweating is due to an underlying medical condition such as a heart attack, it is called secondary hyperhidrosis.”
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. Although sweating can be a sign of an underlying medical condition, it’s also your body’s way of cooling itself - particularly when over exerting yourself or when temperatures rise.
Other signs of a heart attack include:
- Pain or pressure in the chest or arms which radiates to the neck, jaw or back
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Nausea or indigestion
- Fatigue
