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Symptoms you may not link to your heart

Information to help you understand your heart and recognize changes worth discussing with a doctor.
These symptoms can have different causes; a medical assessment helps clarify them.

During exertion

Is it normal to get out of breath climbing stairs?Jaw, arm pain or «heartburn» with effort: could it be the heart?Tiredness that won't go away: could it be the heart?

Heart rhythm and fainting

Why does my heart race or feel like it «skips»?I fainted or nearly fainted: which doctor should I see?

Quiet signs

Why are my ankles and legs swollen?Can snoring affect the heart?My blood pressure is high but I feel fine: does it need treatment?Can erectile dysfunction be related to the heart?I had Chagas disease or lived in a Chagas area: do I need a cardiologist?

Reviewed by Dr. Rebeca Granada, cardiologist · RP 17.697 · Updated 13/10/2026