Stay Ready, Stay Safe: How to Identify Early Signs of a Heart Attack

Heart attacks strike suddenly, have a high chance of being fatal, and take people by surprise. Heart attacks cause a lot of damage to the heart muscles, which can’t be reversed, making it the most urgent heart problem. Before a heart attack happens, the body might show some signs. Today, we will highlight how you can spot these signs early and avoid being caught off guard by a heart attack.

1. Worsening Chest Pain from Angina
   If you notice that your angina symptoms, like chest pain, are getting worse gradually—such as happening more often, spreading to a larger area, feeling more intense, and lasting longer—don’t ignore it. This could be a sign that a heart attack is about to happen.
2. Sudden Palpitations and Chest Tightness
   If you suddenly feel your heart pounding, tightness in your chest, and weakness in your limbs, especially if you’ve never felt this way before, or if these feelings get worse quickly and keep getting worse, get medical help right away. These could be signs that a heart attack is coming soon, so it’s important to be cautious.
3. Chest Pain at Night or While Resting
   Heart attacks often happen when you’re resting. If you feel chest pain during the night or when you’re resting, be alert—it could mean a heart attack is about to happen.
4. Unexplained Chest Pain
   If you have angina, you might feel chest discomfort during physical activity or when you’re stressed. But if you feel chest pain for no clear reason while you’re resting, and it’s accompanied by heavy sweating, vomiting, or nausea, seek medical help right away. This could be a sign that a heart attack is coming.
5. Pain in Other Body Parts with Fatigue
   Pain in other parts of your body, like upper belly, teeth, jaw, left shoulder, or back, along with feeling tired, could be important signs to take seriously.

Could You Be at Risk for a Heart Attack?

Heart attacks have traditionally been associated with middle-aged and elderly individuals, but there’s a concerning trend of them occurring in younger people. What’s more alarming is that when young adults experience sudden heart attacks, the damage to their heart muscles tends to be particularly severe.

In older individuals, the narrowing of blood vessels typically happens gradually over several decades, and the body adapts by developing alternative blood circulation routes.

However, in younger adults, the heart is still highly active, and if blood vessel narrowing occurs, the body hasn’t yet established efficient alternative blood flow paths, increasing the likelihood of extensive damage from a heart attack.

Certain lifestyle choices and underlying health conditions can elevate the risk of becoming susceptible to a heart attack.

• Overindulging in Food: Heart attacks frequently follow episodes of overeating. The consumption of large quantities of high-calorie, high-fat foods can rapidly elevate blood lipid levels, causing increased blood thickness and the clumping of platelets. This heightens the risk of blood clot formation in already narrowed coronary arteries, leading to a heart attack.
• Intense Emotional States: Excessive emotional arousal and mental stress can serve as triggers for heart attacks, sometimes resulting in sudden death in severe cases. Reports from a particular American state suggest that, on average, 8 out of every 10 sports spectators experience heart attacks.
• Extreme Fatigue: Pushing your body beyond its limits, such as through strenuous physical labor like carrying heavy loads up stairs or engaging in excessive exercise, can significantly strain the heart. The sudden surge in oxygen demand, coupled with pre-existing narrowed and hardened coronary arteries, may cause temporary oxygen deprivation to the heart muscle. This can lead to spasms in the arteries, worsening the lack of oxygen to the heart, potentially culminating in a heart attack.
• Susceptibility to Constipation: Although common among older adults, the risks associated with constipation are often underestimated. Many older individuals experience heart attacks while straining during bowel movements due to constipation. Hence, it’s crucial to pay attention to this issue, and older adults should strive to maintain regular bowel habits.

• Frequent Late Nights: As the holiday season fades into memory, many individuals continue to indulge in late-night activities for entertainment. However, prolonged late nights can disrupt your natural sleep patterns, which isn’t favorable for your health. Consistently staying up late can lead to the narrowing of blood vessels and disruptions in immune function, raising the likelihood of experiencing reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, known as myocardial ischemia.
• Persistent Smoking: Chronic smoking harms the inner lining of blood vessels, fostering the development of arterial plaques and escalating the risk of severe coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disorders. Studies indicate that smokers face a mortality rate from heart attacks 2 to 4 times higher than non-smokers. When fragile blood vessels are exposed to cold weather, the occurrence of a heart attack becomes more probable.

4 Steps for Saving a Life During a Heart Attack Emergency!

When it comes to rescuing someone experiencing a heart attack, acting swiftly and correctly can make all the difference. The rescue process involves three crucial stages—dealing with the patient, arranging emergency transport, and hospital treatment—each playing a pivotal role. Here are four simple steps to follow if you suspect someone is having a heart attack:

1. Keep the Patient Calm and Comfortable: If you suspect a heart attack, ensure the person sits or lies down without unnecessary movement. Keep them calm and avoid any emotional agitation, as this can exacerbate the situation.
2. Call Emergency Services Immediately: Dial 995 and wait for professional help to arrive. It’s crucial not to attempt to transport the patient to the hospital yourself or hail a taxi, as the ambulance is equipped to provide the necessary care during transit.
3. Exercise Caution with Medication: If possible, check the patient’s blood pressure before administering any medication. It’s important to be mindful of the following:

• Nitroglycerin: Only give sublingual nitroglycerin if the patient’s blood pressure isn’t too low. If you’re unable to assess blood pressure and the patient experiences dizziness or heavy sweating, refrain from administering it blindly.
• Aspirin: Administer aspirin only if the patient’s blood pressure isn’t elevated. High doses of aspirin in individuals with high blood pressure may heighten the risk of cerebral hemorrhage.

4. Perform CPR if Necessary: In the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest, initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately. However, if the patient still has a heartbeat and is breathing, be cautious as CPR could potentially increase the risk of ventricular fibrillation.

Follow These 8 Tips to Lower Your Risk of a Heart Attack!

While heart attacks can strike suddenly and severely, studies suggest that up to 90% of them are preventable through lifestyle changes and healthy habits. Here are eight things you can do to reduce your risk:

1. Start Your Day Slowly: Morning hours pose a higher risk for heart attacks. Avoid sudden movements when getting out of bed; instead, drink 200ml of warm water, freshen up, and have a balanced breakfast. Ease into your morning exercise routine with gentle, slow movements.
2. Mind Temperature Changes: The period between November and March sees an increased risk of coronary heart disease and heart attacks. Stay warm during winter to prevent cold exposure. In summer, minimize indoor-outdoor temperature differences, ideally not exceeding 7°C. Keep indoor temperatures above 26°C.
3. Avoid Overexertion: Heart attacks can occur during sudden strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects or sudden movements. Pace yourself and avoid excessive exertion.
4. Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can thicken your blood and increase the risk of a heart attack. Aim for 1500-1700ml of water daily, taking small sips every half hour and swallowing slowly to prevent gulping.
5. Monitor Blood Lipids: High blood lipids are a significant risk factor for heart disease. Maintain “bad cholesterol” levels within a healthy range and include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
6. Quit Smoking and Moderate Alcohol: Smoking is a known trigger for cardiovascular disease, and excessive alcohol consumption can raise blood lipid levels and increase stroke risk. Quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, and steer clear of secondhand smoke.
7. Watch Your Salt Intake: Limit daily salt consumption to less than 6 grams, as recommended by dietary guidelines. Avoid high-salt foods such as cured meats and smoked fish.
8. Exercise Regularly: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week to improve cardiovascular health. Choose activities like swimming, brisk walking, or cycling, but avoid overdoing it with strenuous exercise.

By adopting these lifestyle changes and prioritizing your health, you can significantly reduce your risk of experiencing a heart attack.

Photo Credit:

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* Important: The information provided here is for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.