As time goes on, the need to understand the concept of heart attacks has grown ceaselessly, as with time, this health condition has not failed to take people to their graves. In view of that fact, recognizing some of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack has become very important for the concerned parties in order to aid them in taking effective and prompt measures to avoid any unwanted circumstances.
Myocardial infarction, popularly known as a heart attack, is a condition that occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, such that the heart is deprived of oxygenated blood. This blockade normally happens in the coronary artery, the main passage through which oxygenated blood is transferred to the heart.
When the heart is constantly deprived of oxygen for a time, parts of the heart seem to get damaged, and it is no small matter due to the fact that when those parts get damaged, it is usually permanent.
The work of the heart and its parts are very essential for the survival of the human body, and as such, whenever there are problems in any of those parts, heart disease cannot be avoided. Heart attacks have been one of the main reasons why many people have died so far, both directly and indirectly.
As a matter of fact, it is said that for almost every 40 seconds, an individual in the United States has a heart attack; even worse, 805,000 people are said to have a heart attack annually. Out of all this data, it is said that 1 out of every 10 myocardial infarction patients die within a year, which is a problem.
As much as it may sound very scary, heart attacks do not instantly kill; however, some people can die, especially depending on the level of severity. And those who die do so because of the attack itself or other complications.
While some of the more notable signs and symptoms of this condition may include sharp pains in the chest as well as discomforts, there are other signs and symptoms you need to keep an eye out for, especially since you might think they are normal, and as you need to not bother yourself, well, unfortunately, there is no way around this, so you really have to bother yourself and pay very close attention to everything in this article. It happens that, mostly, people either ignore the signs and symptoms of this deadly condition or that they just do not care, which leads them to their demise.
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack will either reveal themselves suddenly or will do so as time goes on. And all in all, its level of severity may not be the same. If you are ready to know more, let’s dive into it.
What Happens During a Heart Attack?
In order to know some of the symptoms of a heart attack, one needs to know some of the key things that take place during those perilous moments.
For a heart attack to occur, it must be because a part of the heart muscle has been deprived of oxygen. It mostly happens that this situation occurs as a result of a blockage that occurs as a result of a ruptured plaque, the buildup of fat, or a blood clot. Let’s see what happens when you have a heart attack.
How It Occurs
The Blockade
For a heart attack to occur, there is a term called cardiac ischemia, where there is a decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. This process begins when there is a narrowing of the coronary artery or perhaps a blockade.
The Pain
This stage is normally termed angina. This is where the patient feels intense pain in certain parts of the body, from the chest area to the back and even at times around the face. This pain can sometimes last for a period.
The Heart Begins To Be Damaged
It does not necessarily mean the heart will get damaged together; however, once a part of the heart does not get the required amount of oxygen, its efficiency starts to fade and it begins to weaken. If care is not taken, the rhythm of the heartbeat will begin to change, which can prove to be very deadly.
The Heart Fails
When a person in this condition is not immediately attended to, their heart then becomes damaged, such that its efficiency in pumping blood reduces significantly. Thereby causing the heart to fail. When that happens and the heart is not able to meet the body’s requirements for blood and oxygen, certain complications arise, including a condition called pericarditis, which is the sudden inflammation of the pericardium, a part of the heart made of tissue. Also, other complications may include a carcinogenic shock and others.
What Causes A Heart Attack?
As stated previously, a heart attack will ensue once a part of your heart is deprived of oxygenated blood due to a blocked coronary artery. Understanding what causes is important so that you will know if there are certain risk factors you must watch out for, such as food and the like. Know that the scenarios to be discussed do not just happen; there are things we do that gradually make it happen
There are many factors that may lead to the condition being discussed. These factors include risk factors, lifestyle habits, and the food we eat, as well as other medical factors we will be discussing in depth subsequently. Let’s first observe certain lifestyle habits that may contribute to this condition.
Eating Too Much Saturated Fat
In our body, there are two forms of cholesterol that define how fit we are when it comes to matters relating to the health of the heart. The two forms of cholesterol are LDL, or bad cholesterol, commonly known as low-density lipoprotein, and HDL, or good cholesterol, also known as high-density lipoprotein.
It is said that consuming too much saturated fat will increase your bad cholesterol to an unhealthy level, which increases your risk of having a heart attack anytime in the future. These foods include chicken, red meat, butter, cheese, and the like.
Oversleeping
Like they always say, too much of everything is bad. Well, the same can be said for sleeping too. When you enjoy sleep a lot, it is a good thing; however, your heart might not like it. Once you reach the maximum threshold of the 8-hour shut-eye, you need to make sure to get up for the sake of your heart. Sleeping for over 9 to 10 hours might actually do you more than good unless otherwise stated by your doctor.
Being Overweight
When you are overweight, you are likely to have heart problems along the way, especially when you fail to find ways to reduce some of the pounds.
Related Posts
Smoking
Once you smoke, it is said that the smoke from whatever substance you smoke contains certain elements that damage your blood vessels, leading to blood clotting and the like. Know that once such things happen, you are more likely to develop a heart attack.
Not Being Physically Active
Once your body is not engaged in regular physical activities, it is most likely going to develop fat as you gain weight. In that sense, you are not able to burn some of the excess calories, and they end up building up in your body, which will later in life prove to be fatal to your life.
Other Life Style Factors
Aside from these few major ones that put you more at risk, there are many others we cannot cover in this article for the sake of relevant content; however, you can contact your local healthcare personnel and ask questions regarding some other factors that can make a person more likely to get a heart attack, or generally, a heart disease.
They will gladly assist you. Let’s now move on to the main content: the signs and symptoms that can suggest that a person is having a heart attack.
Signs And Symptoms Of A Heart Attack
Sweating
One of the many symptoms of a heart attack is when the individual starts to sweat profusely. This kind of sweating mostly has nothing to do with how the weather is; it just happens. Once you recognize something like this, you must not ignore it. Make sure to do a follow-up, and be sure it was not caused by a heart attack.
Fatigue
Also, when you usually feel tired despite not having done anything stressful lately, it might be another symptom of a heart attack. It is mostly observed among women. One typical thing about this symptom is that it may occur a few days prior to the hearing attack. When you get easily fatigued for no particular reason, you might be at risk of getting a heart attack.
Shortness Of Breath
Whenever you feel short of breath and cannot breathe freely as you normally would, know that you might be at risk of having a heart attack. This particular symptom can normally occur even before you experience a heart attack. This symptom also mostly occurs in women.
Nausea, vomiting, Etc
This symptom is also very prevalent among women. and it is mostly mistaken for mere gastrointestinal problems. Although they are not very common, they can indicate that a person has a heart attack, and as such once you notice this symptom, you need to contact your doctor immediately.
Chest Pains
Normally, heart attacks involve individuals experiencing pain in the chest area around the heart. They come with sharp feelings and normally do not go after a few moments, and when they do, they come again once in a while. This pain you might be feeling can signify that you probably have a heat problem, and it can be a heart attack.
Pains In The Upper Body
Aside from feeling pains in your chest, your upper body in general can go through some immense pains. This pain can be felt mostly in your left arm, but it is not limited to that alone; it can also affect your right arm, and then onto your shoulders, neck, and then face.
That is when you will also feel pains in your jaws. These signs let you know that, you are at a risk of having a heart attack, and you need not sit on your butt, get up, and take action for the sake of your health.
Dizziness
When your heart is unable to pump enough blood to the body, your brain is also deprived of quality blood and oxygen, so you would feel dizzy or lightheaded. This mostly occurs during a heart attack.
Heartburn And Indigestion
This particular symptom is mostly overlooked and disregarded. However, it is one of the most subtle signs that can indicate that a person might be at risk of having a heart attack.
Palpitations
Another sign that can tell you that you might be having a heart attack is when you palpitate. This is where you feel like your heart is beating too fast or too slowly. It mostly occurs before or after the attack. When that happens, you need to be proactive and seek help immediately, or if possible, call an ambulance.
What To Do In Case Of A Heart Attack
In the case of a heart attack, taking quick measures can prove to save a life; therefore, one must make sure to jot down or, if possible, bookmark this page, so that you won’t lose this valuable piece.
Call An Ambulance
The first thing to do in the case of a heart attack is to make sure to contact medical professionals immediately. A heart attack is an emergency, and as such, one needs to make sure to seek help immediately, whether or not it seems critical. It is better to be proactive.
Move The Person To A Comfortable Place
After calling the ambulance, make sure to place the person in a more comfortable position with a lot of ventilation. Specifically, it is usually best that you place them on the floor such that you support them with a pillow beneath their bent knees while they sit with something supporting them from the back.
Give the necessary medications, if any
If the person has any medications that have been prescribed by a doctor, make sure to give them to them. However, if not, try keeping an eye on them as you await the arrival of professionals.
Final Words
Once you have been made aware of some of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, as well as a basic knowledge of the concept, I urge you to seek medical attention as soon as possible once you recognize anything you know can be a sign that a person has a heart attack. Your quick reactions will save you or somebody’s life.
