Vigorbuddy.com | Heart Attack Warning Signs: When to Call the Doctor | With one happening every 40 seconds in the United States alone, the chances are that you know already know someone who has had a heart attack.
When one happens, the moments that follow are the most crucial in the sufferers’ life. Quick thinking on the part of the sufferer or those around them can mean life or death.
For this reason, it pays to be aware of heart attack warning signs. Let us break down the why, what and how to prevent a heart attack in our simple but informative guide.
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack happens when your heart becomes starved of oxygenated blood.
Over the years fat, cholesterol, and other substances can start to build up in the arteries leading to them developing plaque. This process can happen faster if you have an unhealthy diet. If this hardened substance then breaks off, it can lead to a blood clot forming, which will eventually block the blood flow in the heart.
The effect of a blocked artery can be felt often within a few minutes and cause the cells of the heart to die at the same rate.
Both men and women are affected, however, curiously their symptoms can vary. With this in mind, what are some of the heart attack warning signs that we all should be on the lookout for?
What Are the Heart Attack Warning Signs?
The most common and noticeable sign of a heart attack is sudden sharp pain in your chest. This is often described as severe pressure or a vicelike grip of your heart.
This pressure or tightness can often spread to other parts of the body, including the arms, jaw, back, and stomach.
It can both stay for prolonged periods or go away and come back frequently.
While this is quite well known as being one of the principal heart attack warning signs, it is vital to note that it is not guaranteed and some people never experience this symptom. Other signs are worth noting include:
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Cold sweats
As mentioned earlier, some signs are more prevalent in women more so than men. While men commonly experience chest pain, women are also likely to experience one of the other symptoms. For this reason, women, in particular, should take action if the presence of one of the other symptoms appears suddenly and unprovoked.
The warning signs of a heart attack can also be present sometime before it happens. The most common is pressure or pain in the chest when partaking in some physical activity that disappears when you stop.
In all cases, if you suspect that you or anyone you are with is experiencing these symptoms, don’t hesitate to call the emergency services.
How to Recover and Avoid a Heart Attack
A heart attack is a serious medical condition yet if not caused by any underlying health issues, it can be managed or even prevented through lifestyle changes.
Any cardiac rehabilitation support you receive will also outline the two major areas that can aid in recovery, diet, and exercise. More information on how to slowly get back into a normal routine such as returning to driving etc can be found on healthy-heart.org.
On the other hand, all of us can try our best to ensure that our chances of a heart attack are as slim as possible. Things that you can do that can prevent the risk are stopping smoking, being physically active, having a balanced and nutritious diet, and reducing stress in your life.
Knowledge Is Power
While it is not pleasant to think of common health complaints, it pays to be aware of their symptoms.
By knowing the heart attack warning signs it will be possible to save not only your own life but also that of others. With this in mind, we hope that this article has proved useful.
If you found out something new be sure to share it with a friend, and check out the other great informative health-related content there is to find on our site.