Maybe you even noticed yourheartbeat racingand thought, Am I out of shape?
Or is something more serious going on?
Heart problems youre born with, a.k.a.congenital heart defects, can impact how effectively yours can pump blood.
Getty Images
Some people live with these issues long before they see a doctor.
Again, feeling like your heart is acting wonky doesnt always mean you have full-on heart disease.
Here are six red flags to be aware of, even if youre young.
Youre feeling exhausted or short of breath for seemingly no reason.
Women are more likely to have more subtle signs, she tells SELF.
Shes much more likely to have shortness of breath and fatigue.
The most important thing is that the fatigue andshortness of breathare new, Dr. Bart notes.
Youre inexplicably dizzy or sometimes pass out.
Andrepeatedly passing out for seemingly no reasonis definitely not normal, Dr. Ruberg explains.
Its normal to feel a little short of breath while exercising.
Still, you dont have to fully collapse to suspect a heart issue.
Feeling overwhelmingdizzinesswhile youre at restormoving can be cause for concern too, Dr. Ruberg says.
So bring them up to your doc, especially if youre dealing with other unusual symptoms.
You feel (some sort of) pressure in your upper body.
However,chest paintends to be a prominent sign that heart disease might be present, says Dr. Bart.
It signals that youve got a problem with your blood supply.
Some people describe it like an elephant sitting on their chest, she says.
Others describe the pressure as much more subtle, or theyll feel nothing at all.
Theres a whole spectrum and everyones different.
You could also feelnauseous, puke, or break out in a cold sweat.
So how can you tell if its your heart rather than a case of food poisoning?
Your heartbeat skyrockets out of nowhere or youre having unexplained panic attacks.
You might suddenly get dizzy and feel like it’s crucial that you sit down.
However, a doctor would be trained to recognize the features of something more serious.
Or like something is happening in their body that they cant explain.
Youre having some issues with thelowerhalf of your body.
Heart trouble can manifest in more surprising parts of your body, too.
Things typically feel worse when youre moving.
This can cause abuildup of fluid and swellingin the legs, ankles, and feet (called edema).
Your sex life might take a hit too.
You have a hard time falling and staying asleep.
The sleep disorder can raise your blood pressure and put a tremendous strain on the heart and body.
So if youre feeling any of these things, you should bring it to a doctor.
