Heart attack symptoms usually last 30 minutes or longer and are not relieved by rest or by taking a form of heart medication called nitroglycerin. The symptoms to be aware of, …
- Chest discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest or left arm
- Fullness, indigestion, or a choking feeling (may feel like heartburn)
- The discomfort that spreads to the back, jaw, throat, or arm
- Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness
- Extreme weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath
- Rapid or irregular heartbeats
If something went wrong with your heart, would you know it?
Not all heart problems come with clear warning signs. There is not always an alarming chest clutch followed by a fall to the floor as you see in movies. Some heart symptoms don’t even happen in your chest, and it’s not always easy to tell what’s going on.
“If you’re not sure, get it checked out,” says Charles Chambers, MD, director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute.
That’s especially true if you are 60 or older, are overweight, or have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, says Vincent Bufalino, MD, an American Heart Association spokesman. “The more risk factors you have,” he says, “the more you should be concerned about anything that might be heart-related.”
Also Read: WANT TO HAVE A HEALTHY HEART? CHECK OUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
Heart Attack Symptoms:
Especially watch out for these problems
1. Chest Discomfort
It’s the most common sign of heart danger. If you have a blocked artery or are having a heart attack, you may feel pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest.
“Everyone has a different word for that feeling,” Chambers says. “Some people say it’s like an elephant is sitting on them. Other people say it’s like a pinching or burning.”
The feeling usually lasts longer than a few minutes. It may happen when you’re at rest or when you’re doing something physical.
If it’s just a very brief pain — or if it’s a spot that hurts more when you touch or push on it — it’s probably not your heart, Chambers says. You should still get it checked out by a doctor. If the symptoms are more severe and don’t go away after a few minutes, you should call 911.
Also, keep in mind you can have heart problems — even a heart attack — without chest pain. That’s particularly common among women.
Also Read: HEART-HEALTHY DIET TIPS: EATING TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE
2. Nausea, Indigestion, Heartburn, or Stomach Pain
Some people have these symptoms during a heart attack. They may even vomit, Chambers says.
Women are more likely to report this type of symptom than men are.
Of course, you can have an upset stomach for many reasons that have nothing to do with your heart. It could just be something you ate, after all. But you need to be aware that it can also happen during a heart attack.
So if you feel this way and you’re at risk for heart problems, let a doctor find out what’s going on, especially if you also have any of the other symptoms on this list.
3. Pain that Spreads to the Arm
Another classic heart attack symptom is pain that radiates down the left side of the body.
“It almost always starts from the chest and moves outward,” Chambers says. “But I have had some patients who have mainly arm pain that turned out to be heart attacks.”
4. You Feel Dizzy or Lightheaded
A lot of things can make you lose your balance or feel faint for a moment. Maybe you didn’t have enough to eat or drink, or you stood up too fast.
But if you suddenly feel unsteady and you also have chest discomfort or shortness of breath, call a doctor right away.
“It could mean your blood pressure has dropped because your heart isn’t able to pump the way it should,” Bufalino says.
5. Throat or Jaw Pain
By itself, throat or jaw pain probably isn’t heart-related. More likely, it’s caused by a muscular issue, a cold, or a sinus problem.
But if you have pain or pressure in the centre of your chest that spreads up into your throat or jaw, it could be a sign of a heart attack. Call 911 and seek medical attention to make sure everything is all right.
6. You Get Exhausted Easily
If you suddenly feel fatigued or winded after doing something you had no problem doing in the past — like climbing the stairs or carrying groceries from the car — make an appointment with your doctor right away.
“These types of significant changes are more important to us than every little ache and pain you might be feeling,” Bufalino says.
7. Snoring
It’s normal to snore a little while you snooze. But unusually loud snoring that sounds like a gasping or choking can be a sign of sleep apnea. That’s when you stop breathing for brief moments several times at night while you are still sleeping. This puts extra stress on your heart.
Your doctor can check whether you need a sleep study to see if you have this condition. If you do, you may need a CPAP machine to smooth out your breathing while you sleep.
Making simple changes in what you eat, how often you exercise, how much you weigh, and how you manage stress can help put the brakes on heart disease.
Also Read: SAY GOOD BYE TO CHOLESTEROL RICH FOODS FOR A HEALTHY HEART.
But can you actually reverse it, not just slow it down?
You can undo some, but probably not all, of the damage. You’ll have to make big, lasting changes to your lifestyle.
What It Takes
Dr Ornish’s plan includes walking at least half an hour a day, or for an hour three times a week. Yoga, meditation, and stress reduction are also involved.
Diet may be the biggest thing you’d change. The shift will be drastic if you’re used to a typical American diet.
“Just making moderate changes in your diet may be enough to prevent heart disease, but it won’t be enough to reverse it,” Ornish says.
He puts foods in five groups, ranging from healthiest to least healthy. To reverse heart disease, he says, means becoming a vegetarian. You’ll fill your plate with fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, soy products, nonfat dairy, and egg whites, and you’ll avoid fats, refined sugar, and processed carbs.
“You want to eat foods in their natural form as much as possible,” Ornish says.
Of course, eating a healthy diet and being active is part of any heart health plan. You’ll also need to:
- Stick to a healthy weight
- Take all your medications
- Keep up with your doctor visits
- Not smoke or be around secondhand smoke
