Heart attacks — also called myocardial infarctions — are very common in the United States. In fact, one happens every 40 seconds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Chest pain is the most common warning sign of a heart attack. But there can be other symptoms, too, like lightheadedness, nausea, and shortness of breath. Symptoms can be severe or mild, and are often different from one person to the next. Some people may not even notice any warning signs of a heart attack.
This article will take a closer look at heart attack
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is blocked or cut off. If there’s not sufficient oxygen-rich blood flowing to the heart, it can cause damage to the affected area. As a result, the heart muscle begins to die.
When your heart isn’t getting the blood and oxygen it needs to function properly, it can put you at a higher risk of heart failure and other serious complications.
A heart attack is a life threatening medical emergency. The sooner you can get medical treatment that restores normal blood flow to your heart, the better your chance of a successful outcome.
Heart attack symptoms
1. Nausea, Indigestion, and Heartburn
Nausea or feeling sick on your stomach is a less common but a possible symptom of heart attack. Women are more likely to experience these less typical symptoms.
2. Pain in Body
It also involves pain and discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck etc. down the body.
3. Shortness of breath
Feeling short of breath or like you are gasping for air is a common symptom of heart attack. It may occur before or during the chest pain of heart attack.
4. Irregular heartbeats
If you feel that your heart is beating fast then this may be the symptom of heart attacks.
5. Arm pain
Pain in the left arm (more common) extending to wrist and fingers is also a sign of heart attack. It occurs due to spreading of pain from the chest, down to one or both arms and to the shoulders.
6. Chest discomfort
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes. It’s the most common sign of heart danger. If you have blocked the artery or having pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest, you should consult a doctor.
7. Sweating
Breaking out in cold sweat for no reason could signal heart attacks.
8. Feeling of Illness
A feeling of unwell or illness can also accompany a heart attack. Fatigue or Light-headedness with or without fainting also seen in some people having the heart attack.
Many of the heart attacks are silent, without any chest pain or any other symptom especially in case of diabetes patients.
Other signs also involve lightheaded, a long-lasting cough that produces white or pink mucus, if the person gets exhausted easily, these could also be the sign of heart attack.
There are some other symptoms that you should be aware as these can also lead to a heart attack are- weakness in the face or one side of the body, trouble in speaking properly and understanding, trouble in walking, loss of balance and coordination, dizziness etc.
