When To See A Doctor: 6 Warning Signs And Symptoms That Point To A Heart Attack | Cardiovascular Disorders and Diseases articles | Body & Health Conditions center

A heart attack is a medical emergency that often starts with unhealthy dietary habits and the lack of exercise. The human body already produces the amount of cholesterol it needs to stay healthy, but one can end up having an excess amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream when consuming foods that are fatty and high in cholesterol. Too much cholesterol leads to coronary artery disease, which is the number one cause of heart disease.

Signs and symptoms can vary from one person to another, and they are sometimes mistaken for other conditions. By knowing the most common signs of heart disease, you can be one step closer towards saving your own life.

1. Angina

Angina is characterized by the different sensations of pain and discomfort felt in the chest region. While not all types of angina signal a heart attack, some episodes do, so it’s important to know how to handle such a situation.

Angina kicks in because your heart isn’t receiving enough blood, which slowly causes the deterioration of its muscle. The primary cause of angina is coronary artery disease; deposits of plaque on the inner walls of the coronary arteries.

If you are experiencing angina while you’re doing some physical activity, it’s most likely that you have stable angina. This usually passes after five minutes of resting. However, if your angina episodes kick in even when you’re resting, it’s a sign of unstable angina, and it could potentially signal a heart attack.

When angina kicks in, stop whatever you’re doing and rest for five minutes. If you’ve already been diagnosed with angina, your doctor already has you on some sort of medication for pain, so take a pill. If the pain persists for longer than 10 minutes, treat it like a heart attack and call an ambulance. Don’t take aspirin unless your doctor or a paramedic says it’s safe.

2. Dyspnea

Shortness — dyspnea — can also be a warning sign of heart disease and a potential heart attack. Exercising will lead to dyspnea most of the time, but it does pass by rather quickly.

However, this shortness of breath can signal many different underlying conditions, ranging from pneumonia to heart failure. Sometimes, dyspnea can be explained (like when you’re having shortness of breath from exercising), but other times, it’s a sign of a serious medical condition and requires immediate medical attention.

If you’re experiencing dyspnea accompanied by other symptoms, such as angina or dizziness, it’s very likely you are on the verge of a heart attack. People who experience shortness of breath when lying down might have heart failure.

When shortness of breath is paired with coughing, it could be a sign of pulmonary diseases, such as pneumonia.

3. Excessive sweating

Cold sweat is often a symptom of a heart attack, and it can occur both during the day and the night. If you are sweating more than usual without even exercising, it could be due to the fact that your heart is making extra effort to pump blood through narrow and clogged coronary arteries.

As a consequence, the body starts to sweat excessively in order to regulate its temperature to deal with this additional effort. This type of sweat can sometimes be accompanied by clammy skin, which is a sign that you should see a doctor.

Women with heart problems are likely to experience excessive sweating during the night. Older women, in particular, might consider that this is a sign of menopause, so checking in with a doctor is important, in order to rule out the possibility of a heart attack.

4. Fatigue

Fatigue can be a sign of heart attack, and it occurs because of the additional stress put on the heart trying to pump blood to make up for the lost supply. Women often confuse this fatigue with the flu, and dyspnea and fatigue are generally heart attack symptoms that occur more frequently among the female population. Those who experience unexplained fatigue should see a doctor, just to make sure they are not dealing with a severe heart problem.

5. Heart palpitations

Heart palpitations don’t always signal a heart attack. They can have exertion causes, or even be a sign of an emotional disorder, such as anxiety. People having to deal with a lot of stress due to daily problems are likely to experience heart palpitations, but one can never rule out the possibility of a heart attack when this occurs.

These palpitations are signaled by a heart that changes its regular rhythm. it can skin a beat or beat faster than it normally does. People with heart palpitations describe a sense of throbbing or pounding, almost as if the heart was about to explode.

When heart palpitations kick in, people start feeling extremely anxious and claim they feel their heart pounding in the neck. Generally speaking, if heart palpitations occur after exercise or during periods of stress, it may not be a medical emergency, but when they are combined with chest pain, dizziness, or fatigue, you should definitely see a doctor.

6. Dizziness and light-headedness

These generally occur together and have been signaled more frequently by women. People might feel like they will pass out if they try to put in any effort. These could be symptoms for many different medical conditions, but they are not normal, and one should never rule out the possibility of them signaling a heart attack.

Conclusion

When you suspect that you’re having a heart attack, the most important thing to do is call the emergency service number in your area or country. Ask for an ambulance and stay on the line, waiting for the operator to give you instructions.

Every second is important for someone who is having a heart attack and can sometimes make the difference between life and death. In some cases, it also helps to talk to whoever is with you and take a dose of your heart medicine. If the symptoms are there for longer than 10 minutes, it’s clear that you need medical help.