Author:
Robert Simon
Date Of Creation:
19 June 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, every year, about 735,000 people have a heart attack in the United States and 525,000 of them have their first heart attack. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. Recognizing the early signs and symptoms of a heart attack is an important step in reducing the risk of death and avoiding loss of physical activity. About 47% of sudden deaths are due to a heart attack outside the hospital, suggesting that many people are still ignoring the body's first warning signs. Equipping the ability to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and calling the nearest medical center right away can help reduce a heart attack recurring and save your life.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Determine the underlying symptoms of a heart attack
Watch out for chest discomfort or pain. According to a study by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 92% of cases recognize that chest pain is a symptom of a heart attack, but only 27% are aware of all symptoms and know when should call ambulance. Although chest pain is a common, common symptom, the person may initially assume that he or she has severe epigastric pain or heartburn.- Chest pain caused by a heart attack feels like someone is squeezing your chest or as if there is an elephant-like weight on your chest. Antacids do not help relieve chest pain caused by a heart attack.
- However, according to a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that 31% of men and 42% of women did not show signs of chest pain often associated with a heart attack. Diabetics are also at a greater risk of developing less basic symptoms.
Watch for signs of upper body pain. Pain from a heart attack can spread from your chest to your upper shoulders, arms, back, neck, teeth, or jaw. In fact, you may not have pain in the chest area. Chronic toothache or upper back pain can be the early signs of a heart attack.
Be aware that early symptoms may be mild. Most heart attacks begin with mild symptoms described above. However, you are also not subjective.If symptoms do not go away within 5 minutes, you need to call an ambulance right away for medical treatment.
Evaluate if the pain is related to the angina if you have a history of angina. Did your angina go away quickly with treatment? Some patients with coronary artery disease may experience angina in the chest area. This happens when the heart muscle can't absorb enough oxygen to support the muscle's functioning. People with angina can take medicine to help widen the arteries in the heart and relieve the pain. If the angina doesn't go away quickly even with rest or treatment, it could be a sign of an oncoming heart attack.
Be alert for abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. Pain from a heart attack can be felt in the abdomen. The stomach will feel like heartburn but won't get better with antacids. You may also experience nausea, vomiting, and no chest pain or other signs of stomach flu (viral gastritis).
Call 911 immediately if you suspect you are having a heart attack. This is the urgent first step you need to take. Do not delay getting medical attention. Getting medical treatment within the first hour of symptom onset can help increase your chances of recovery and minimize damage to the heart muscle.
- Do not take aspirin on your own. The emergency doctor will determine if you need to take aspirin.
Method 2 of 4: Recognize the atypical symptoms of a heart attack.
Recognize atypical symptoms in women. Women are more likely to experience other atypical signs of a heart attack than men. Some of them include:
- Suddenly feeling weak.
- Person pain.
- Fatigue, sometimes flu-like.
- Sleep disorders.
Watch out for unusual shortness of breath. Shortness of breath is a sign of a heart attack that may precede chest pain. You may feel like you are missing O2 in your lungs or like you've just finished racing.
Be alert for mild headaches, anxiety, and sweating. Symptoms of a heart attack may include unexplained anxiety. You may also experience mild headaches or cold sweats without chest pain or other symptoms.
Watch out for signs of heart beating too fast. If you feel your heart beating fast, your heart pounding in your chest, like you are feeling nervous, or your heart rate changes, that may be atypical sign of a heart attack. advertisement
Method 3 of 4: Assess risk factors for heart attack
Understand that there are different risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Some factors can be changed by making lifestyle changes, while others cannot. Once you become aware of options that can increase or decrease your risk of heart disease and heart attack, you can make wiser choices.
Understand the risk factors for cardiovascular disease that you cannot change. There are factors that cannot be changed and should be considered when assessing the risk of a heart attack. Risk factors that cannot be changed include:
- Age: Men over 45 and women over 55 have a higher risk of having a heart attack.
- Family history. If a close relative has someone who has had a heart attack, your risk is higher.
- History of autoimmune disease: If you have a history of an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or Lupus, you have a higher risk of having a heart attack.
- Pre-eclampsia: This is a health problem during pregnancy.
Understand modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. You can change your lifestyle by practicing positive habits, avoiding negative habits to reduce the following risk factors:
- Smoking: Smoking is an independent risk factor for sudden death from cardiovascular disease in people with coronary artery disease. Smoking cigarettes also increases the risk of coronary artery disease.
- High Blood Pressure
- Loss of physical activity
- Diabetes
- Fat
- High cholesterol
- Stress and taking drugs banned
Reduce the risk of a heart attack. Live positively every day. You should practice brisk walking for 15 minutes after lunch and dinner. Eat a healthy diet, low in salt, low in trans fats and carbohydrates, rich in healthy unsaturated fats, and high in protein.
- Quit smoking.
- Follow your doctor's recommendations for treatment and medication if you are at high risk of having a heart attack or have just recovered from a heart attack.
Method 4 of 4: Understand medical treatment for heart attack
Prepare for emergency procedures. A heart attack can be life-threatening but can respond positively if it is treated early and immediately. Patients at risk of having a heart attack receive immediate care while in the emergency room.
Prepare for an electrocardiogram test. An electrocardiogram is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. Tests help your doctor know how much muscle is injured or if you are preparing for a heart attack. Injured muscle will not conduct electricity like normal healthy muscle. The electrical activity of the heart will be transmitted through electrodes placed on the chest and printed on paper for evaluation.
Prepare for the blood test. When the heart muscle is damaged by a heart attack, certain chemicals are released into the bloodstream. Troponin chemicals will remain in the blood for up to 2 weeks, helping your doctor make a reasonable assessment of whether you have recently had an undiagnosed heart attack.
Prepare for the catheterization. Your doctor may perform cardiac catheterization to confirm more information about your cardiovascular condition. During this process, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and into the heart. The tube is normally inserted through an artery in the groin area. This process is relatively risk-free. During the catheterization, your doctor may:
- X-ray with contrast dye. X-rays help your doctor determine if any arteries are narrow or blocked.
- Check blood pressure in the chambers of the heart.
- Take a blood sample to measure the amount of oxygen in your heart's chamber.
- Do a biopsy.
- Check the heart's ability to pump effectively.
Prepare for the Stress Test after your heart attack has passed. For a few weeks after the heart attack disappears, you may need a Stress Test to evaluate how your heart's blood vessels react to physical activity. You will be run on a treadmill and connected to an electrocardiograph to measure the electrical activity of your heart. This test helps your doctor determine long-term treatments for your condition. advertisement
Advice
- Give friends and family information about less common heart attack symptoms to avoid an undiagnosed or untreated heart attack.
Warning
- If you experience these symptoms or other strange symptoms, do not hesitate to call 911 and get medical treatment right away. Early treatment helps to yield better results.
- Do not move yourself if you think you are having a heart attack to avoid further damage to your heart. Instead, have someone else call the ambulance right away.
