Symptom 12. Cold or Numb Extremities: The Chilling Sign of Aortic Stenosis
One might often dismiss the sudden feeling of cold or numbness in the extremities, attributing it to external factors like the weather. However, cold, numb, or tingling hands and feet can be much more than a mere temperature response. In the complex jigsaw puzzle of aortic stenosis, they might represent the pieces you didn’t know were missing.
When aortic stenosis enters the picture, the aortic valve, the gateway that allows oxygen-rich blood to circulate from the heart to the rest of the body, starts to shrink. As the opening narrows, the life-giving stream of warmth and vitality turns into a trickle. As a result, your extremities – the hands and feet – which are at the furthest distance from the heart, start to feel cold and numb.
With reduced blood flow, these parts may struggle to sense the surroundings, resulting in an eerie numbness or tingling sensation. It’s as though your body is at war with an invisible chill, an unwelcome winter creeping into your limbs.
These symptoms are not just a peculiar bodily response to your environment. Instead, they represent your body’s “mayday!” call, trying to inform that all is not well. It’s like a secret message, a coded language that your body uses to hint at the underlying aortic stenosis. (12)
Symptom 13. Weight Gain or Loss: The Unexpected Consequence of Aortic Stenosis
Body weight is often a topic of discussion, whether it’s about fitness goals, dietary plans, or health concerns. However, unexplained changes in body weight might not always be the result of diet or exercise. If you are dealing with aortic stenosis, your weight could be playing an entirely different game.
In this case, your body is a battleground. As the disease advances, the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the narrowed aortic valve. This added strain can lead to an increase in metabolic rate, leading to unintentional weight loss.
On the flip side, aortic stenosis can also lead to weight gain. Reduced physical activity due to fatigue and shortness of breath can cause an accumulation of excess weight. This seesaw of weight fluctuations is a silent nod to the upheaval that aortic stenosis causes within your body.
Your weight turning into a pendulum, swinging between loss and gain, isn’t a testament to your diet or exercise regime. It is a warning sign, a flashing red light, indicating that something is amiss. It is a subtle hint at the uninvited guest of aortic stenosis, lurking behind the scenes.
Remember, these weight changes are not merely numbers on a scale. They are physical manifestations of an underlying issue. Recognizing these shifts is vital to identifying the cause and dealing with it promptly. They are not mere fluctuations but silent witnesses to the ongoing drama of aortic stenosis. (13)
