Recognizing
symptoms of heart problems can save your life.
Not All Heart Attacks are Alike
Did
you know you can have a heart attack
and not feel any chest pains? Heart
failure and heart disease don’t show the same signs for everyone, especially
women. A heart attack—medically
known as myocardial infarction—happens when a blood clot blocks flow of
blood to the heart.
There
are many things that can contribute to a heart
attack, including age, heredity, high
blood pressure, high cholesterol,
obesity, poor diet, alcohol
consumption, stress, and physical inactivity.
Fatigue & Shortness of Breath
Exhaustion
and shortness of breath are two ways your body tells you it needs rest, but it
can also be a sign of heart trouble as a response to the extra stress on your
heart. If you often feel tired or exhausted for no reason, it could be a sign
that something is wrong.
Fatigue
and shortness of breath are more common in women and may begin months before a heart attack.
Sweating—Day & Night
Sweating
more than usual—especially if you aren’t exercising or being active—could be an
early warning sign of heart problems.
Pumping blood through clogged arteries takes more effort from your heart, so
your body will sweat more to try to keep your body temperature down during the
extra exertion. If you experience cold sweats or clammy skin, then you should
consult your doctor.
Night
sweats are also a common symptom for women experiencing heart troubles.
Indigestion, Nausea, & Vomiting
Often
people begin experiencing mild indigestion and other gastrointestinal problems before a heart attack. Because heart
attacks usually occur in older people who typically have more indigestion
problems, these symptoms often get dismissed as heartburn or another food-related complication.
If
you normally have an iron stomach, indigestion or heart burn could be signaling
that something else is going on.
Chest Pain, Pressure, &
Discomfort
While
chest pains do not occur in every heart
attack, they are the most recognizable symptom for good reason. Chest
tightness and discomfort are common sign of a heart attack. People have
described the sensation as that of an elephant standing on their chest. If you
experience chest pains or tightness, you or someone around you should call
Emergency Paramedic immediately.
Other Pains throughout the Body
Pain
and tightness can also radiate in other areas of the body. Most people
associate a heart attack with pain
working its way down the left arm. That can happen, but pain can also appear in
other locations, including:
Upper
abdomen
Shoulder
Back
Throat
Teeth
or jaw
During a Heart Attack
If
you think you are having a heart attack,
you or someone nearby should call Emergency Paramedic immediately. If you’ve
been prescribed heart medication and experience heart troubles, follow your
doctor’s instructions. Even something as simple as taking aspirin can prevent
the clot from becoming worse. If treatment of the blockage can be administered
within a couple of hours of the onset of symptoms, the risk of severe damage to
the heart is lowered.
Getting Started on a Solution
If
you are at risk for heart attack and
heart disease, it is important to make smart choices with your diet, exercise,
and stress management.
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