Signs of a Heart Attack That You Must Prevent Before Its Too Late

Signs of a Heart attack

The term ‘heart attack’ has become quite common nowadays, but do you have any idea about how it occurs? In the most straightforward words, a person may suffer from a heart attack when there is not sufficient flow of blood to the heart. There are several signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain, breathlessness, sudden unconsciousness, and more. Moreover, heart attacks can be silent or dormant too.

As mentioned above, a heart attack is mainly caused due to a disruption in the normal blood flow. Now, such a disorder takes place majorly due to a blockage in the pathway. It is through which the blood reaches the heart. Do you know how a blockage in the heart develops? It is mainly due to an increase in the amount of cholesterol, fat, and similar substances that a plaque is formed. As a result, there may be severe interruptions in the blood-flow.

Over the years, there has been more awareness about the signs of a heart attack. There has also been a lot of development in its treatment areas. However, you must know how to detect the signs to call for advance immediate help. Sadly, heart attack or myocardial infarction can be a fatal problem in several cases.

In this article, you will not just come across signs of a heart attack, but also learn about precautions, unknown terms, and much more. So, without wasting further time, let’s start with everything that you have wanted to know.

Symptoms and signs of a heart attack

In this section, we will start the journey by knowing the most uncomplicated symptoms and signs of a heart attack. They include:

  • Pressure, aching or squeezing sensation, pain, tightness, and similar feelings in your arms and chest. The pain may further spread and reach your jaw, neck, or back.
  • Nausea, abdominal pain, indigestion, and heartburn
  • Breathlessness
  • Cold sweat
  • Fatigue
  • Sudden dizziness and lightheadedness

The signs of a heart attack may be different

You may have heard of several heart attack cases, and you must have realized until now that not every situation is the same. In most of the cases, the signs of a heart attack and the seriousness of it vary. For example, some people have complained of just mild pain, and in other cases, the chest pain has taken a tremendous form.

There is also the concept of a ‘silent heart attack’ in which the patient does not suffer any signs of an attack. However, the best way to find advance precautions is by noticing if someone is suffering from one or more of the symptoms.

While on the one hand, some cases of heart attack are pure; on the other hand, other patients experience signs of it entirely in advance.

When do you require a consultation?

One thing that you must understand is that the signs of a heart attack need immediate action and attention. So, you must visit a doctor as soon as you notice any of the primary symptoms that you will learn about heart attack from this article. the below-mentioned suggestions will make things smoother for you in an emergency.

 Call the emergency number immediately:

As soon as you realize that you are experiencing significant heart attack symptoms, just go ahead and call ‘911’. You must not delay this step so that the medical team can reach you at the earliest. In other cases, if you do not have access to such an option, reaching the nearest medical center is a must. Also, make sure that you have someone to drive you to the hospital as driving is not safe in that condition.

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Nitroglycerin solution

It is a medicine that the doctor often prescribes, only to be consumed during an emergency such as a probable heart attack. However, you must utilize the nitroglycerin solution only if the doctor allows you to do it.

Aspirin may help

Aspirin is often considered good during an emergency, such as a heart attack. The reason is that it provides a certain amount of relief by restricting blood clotting during a severe condition.

First-aid knowledge for heart attack treatment

Someone may get a heart attack in front of you and do not have immediate medical help around. What will you do in this case? Firstly, you must call for emergency medical attention, and then check whether the patient’s pulse is active. If you are unable to hear any pulse or breathing, it is time that you start giving CPR to the patient.

CPR is a type of chest compression that works to clear the airways in your chest to release blood flow. The CPR method is tried and tested on several people and is an excellent way to handle emergencies. However, you must remember that the compressions should be rapid enough, say at least 120-150 in a minute. So, you know why it is always good to have practical knowledge about basic first-aid such as these.

Clues that you are experiencing signs of heart attack

Now that you are already aware of the early signs of heart disease, you must dig into further details. In this section, we will discuss clues that will help you diagnose whether you or someone else is experiencing a heart attack.

Sleep Apnea

One of the early signs of heart disease is sleep apnea. If you notice someone’s snoring includes brief pauses, it is undoubtedly something to get worried about. The breaks are a result of the fact that your brain is unable to receive enough oxygen.

As a result, the person’s heart will receive signals from the brain, and it will function harder. Therefore, you are prone to a sudden rise in the blood pressure levels, and the heartbeat rhythm will get disturbed. As a result, there are high chances that the person will suffer from a heart attack.

Bumpy rashes

The primary heart attack causes include extreme levels of triglycerides in the body. Such a condition may lead to blockages in the arteries leading to a heart attack. If you notice bumpy rashes around your knuckles, toes, or bottom, it is time you see a doctor.

The rashes are usually orange-yellow and can be painful too. Such outbreaks are a result of the hardening of arteries due to excessive build-up of fat tissues in the body. Therefore, it is always better to keep a check on your daily diet. You must avoid too much grease and fat, and instead consume fresh fruits and leafy vegetables. Regular participation of at least 30-45 minutes of physical activities will also help you in the long run.

Gripping strength

Did you know that your gripping power is directly related to the condition of your heart? Yes, several pieces of research have suggested that weakness, when you want to grip something, can be one of the possible heart attack causes. If you feel that your hands have enough strength when you are trying to hold something, then you are possibly safer. However, if the condition is just the opposite, there are high chances that your heart is in trouble.

Spots on your nails

You may notice blood clots turning back in the nail area if you have stubbed them somewhere. However, if you do not remember hurting your nails and still find such marks, the problem may be in your heart. Yes, you might be suffering from endocarditis in this case. The issue of endocarditis means that there is an infection in your valves or the walls of your heart.

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Black spots in the nail area is a common symptom that you have diabetes. However, the unfortunate part, in this case, is that such diabetes patients are four times in danger of suffering from a heart attack.

Dizziness

Lightheadedness or dizziness is surprisingly having a direct connection with your heart. You feel dizzy or light in your head, majorly because the heart is not receiving enough amount of oxygen. As a result, there could be a development of arrhythmia, which is a rare syndrome. In this case, the patient will experience abnormality in the heartbeat rhythm.

Other than arrhythmia, the weakening of the muscles of your heart may lead to a severe heart attack. Unfortunately, a lot of people are still unaware of the fact that feeling woozy out of nowhere can be one of the first signs of a heart attack.

Sexual issues

Several couples are now at loggerheads because of their dissatisfactory sex life. However, you must know that the underlying problem may be as dangerous as some early signs of heart disease.

Men who are diagnosed with erectile dysfunction must know that most of the time, it is caused due to deficit blood circulation. Besides, the arteries or valves in your heart may be blocked due to excessive cholesterol leading to the issue.

In women, abnormality in blood circulation may lower the libido levels. As a result, you will not be able to enjoy sexual activities. Therefore, if you are facing such issues, it is time to consult a doctor.

Patchy skin-tone

If you notice gray or blue toes and fingers in anyone, it is probably due to a congenital heart defect. It might also be a result of a blockage in the blood vessels. As you may already know that excessive cholesterol in the body may lead to severe heart issues. Similarly, if there are purple patches on several parts of your body, they are breakage of cholesterol plaque.

Such breakage causes the plaque to deposit around the blood vessels. As a result, you may find out dark patches similar to blood clots below the outer layer of your skin. In medical terms, such a condition is known as endocarditis, which is also one of the major heart attack causes.

Gum problems

Several interesting facts are still unknown to us about significant issues, such as a heart attack. For example, did you have the idea that bleeding gums can further lead to heart disease? Yes, you heard it right; oral problems such as bleeding gums may cause a problem in the heart.

According to medical experts, the same bacteria that cause oral problems may get inside the body along with your saliva. As a result, there may be inflammation symptoms in the heart. All of these together can inevitably lead to the development of mini heart attack symptoms.

Velvety, dark patches on the skin

You may notice thick spots in the creases and fold of neck, groin, armpits, and more. The medical term for this condition is acanthosis nigricans. It is usually the result of your body not being able to utilize the hormone insulin.

You may also develop skin tags due to the spots. So, consult a doctor if you are not already getting treatment for metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and type II diabetes. The doctor will tell you how to protect your heart and control blood sugar levels in the body.

Fatigue

Fatigue is one condition that we often ignore, stating a lack of sleep. However, it can be much more than just sleep deficiency. Yes, the reason may also be that your heart is healthy enough to pump enough blood that reaches your brain. As a result, you may always feel tired, dizzy, and exhausted.

Other than fatigue, dry coughs, swelling, especially in the lower portion of your body, and more can be signs of a weak heart. It is time you realize that you are facing a majority of these symptoms, and you are always weak. Just rush to a doctor and get his suggestions on the symptoms. Other than that, it might also be early symptoms of anemia, depression, or even cancer.

Final words

In this article, you get to learn about the signs of a heart attack and so much more. By the end of the clues, you already know how much care your body needs and what symptoms you should never ignore.