2. Unusual shortness of breath
Struggling to catch your breath after mild effort, such as walking upstairs, may point to insufficient oxygen circulation due to narrowed arteries.
A stressed heart has difficulty keeping up with demand, and this can even cause breathing difficulties when resting or lying down.
In advanced stages, people may wake up at night gasping or need to sleep propped up. This signals that the heart is struggling to deliver enough blood, even to the lungs.
