A Queensland GP, who dismissed her husband’s symptoms as being due to his age and poor fitness, has urged over 60s to be aware that there’s more to heart attack than a stabbing pain in the chest.
Dr Desley Marshall, who practices in rural Queensland told Medical Observer, “[Robert] was quite tired and quite breathless. I kept telling him he was 73 and didn’t do any exercise.”
It turned out that her husband was actually suffering serious heart problems and needed a coronary artery bypass and valve replacement followed. His condition was fortunately picked up by a travelling Heart of Australia mobile cardiology clinic.
Dr Marshall’s case is a reminder how many of us are unaware of the many and varied symptoms of heart disease – not all heart attacks start with someone clutching their chest and falling to the floor.
Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for. If you have any concerns, see your doctor and request an echocardiogram. If you experience several of these symptoms at once, seek help.
Have you or has someone you love experienced heart disease? Which symptoms did you observe and which did you miss?