Little-known sign of fatal heart disease in your feet – and 5 more warning signs after Jeremy Clarkson’s shock surgery

A LITTLE-known sign on your feet and five other warning signs could be linked to fatal heart disease.

While we tend to associate the disease with symptoms like chest tightness and pain around the heart, there are also less obvious things to look out for.

2

Jeremy Clarkson revealed last week that he had undergone heart surgery after struggling to walk up the stairs after swimming on holiday.

The 64-year-old presenter had one artery completely blocked and another almost blocked, putting him in serious danger.

He sought emergency care after feeling “clammy” and having “tingling in his left arm.”

Heart disease can manifest itself in different ways and in different places – including the feet.

If you notice swelling in your ankles and legs, it’s definitely worth seeing a doctor, according to the NHS.

Because this symptom could be a sign that you are suffering from heart failure.

The swelling in your legs, called edema, is caused by a buildup of fluid. You may notice that it is better in the morning but gets worse during the day.

According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), heart failure means your heart isn’t working as well as it should and needs medication to make it work better.

When this happens, blood isn’t pumped properly to your kidneys, causing these organs to retain salt and water.

“This extra fluid in your body can cause swelling in the ankles, feet or legs and sometimes in the stomach area,” the charity warned.

Other signs that you may have heart disease include unusual tiredness, discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, stomach or shoulders, nausea, swelling in the knees or stomach and fainting.

Clarkson had tests at the hospital, which ruled out a heart attack.

The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire presenter said he was then taken to surgery for urgent treatment.

A stent was inserted into the blocked artery to keep it open and restore blood flow to the heart.

He said: “It wasn’t particularly painful. Just strange,” and said he thought at the time, “Crikey, that was close.”

Clarkson has smoked every day since he was 14 and has lived “in a blizzard of hangovers and jet lag” for the past 30 years – admitting he didn’t want to lead a boring life.

The Sun columnist said: “I always knew this lifestyle wouldn’t see me live to 112 and I didn’t care.”

“Because why should you deny yourself all the fun in your 30s, 40s and even 50s just so you can stay in a retirement home with a gray face and a tube up your nose for as long as possible?

“But here’s the thing: I’m 64 now and last week, when the Grim Reaper stuck his nose through the door, I decided that I’d actually rather live a little longer.”

Clarkson has now been told he needs to change his lifestyle.

He continued: “The worst problem, however, is nutrition. In order to lower my alarmingly high cholesterol levels, I have to completely cut out everything I like to eat.”

“Bacon, sausages, beef, lamb, pork, butter, chips, real milk, Cadbury’s fruit and nut bars and the interesting piece in an egg.”

“I have now had a week to live under the new regime and it is terrible.

“Have you ever tried kale? Well, don’t, because it’s like eating the contents of a AAA battery.”

“And then there’s Greek yogurt. What’s that supposed to mean?

“Alcohol? Technically it’s not necessarily high in cholesterol, but it makes you fat, so that needs to go too. Everything.”

And once he recovers from surgery, Clarkson will also need to exercise more.