A heart attack or myocardial infarction is a medical emergency that mainly develops when some of the heart muscles don’t get the normal blood flow. One or more blockages in the arteries of your heart can be the main underlying cause of the restricted blood flow which can lead the heart muscles to die. You need to contact an experienced cardiologist in Siliguri immediately after getting a heart attack to restore normal blood flow. Otherwise, it can cause permanent damage to the heart and even death.
To get timely intervention, it is essential to recognize the early symptoms of a heart attack. You must know that heart attacks can have many symptoms when the symptoms are quite different among men and women. In most cases, the signs come intensely and suddenly but there are also cases when the symptoms can be quite mild with gradual flare-ups. You must listen to your body and detect the symptoms you’re facing so that you can seek professional help immediately.
Recognize the warning signs of a heart attack
1. Chest pain
One of the key symptoms of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. In most of the cases, people often suffer from severe pain that starts from the center of the chest. This pain might stay for a few minutes and fade away then come back again after a while.
Most people explain this pain as a sudden onset of tightness, uncomfortable pressure, or squeezing in the chest. Initially, the chest pain can be mild but then it can become quite painful while spreading through the breastbone, arms, shoulders, and face.
2. Shortness of breath
Even before experiencing chest pain, you can experience shortness of breath. This is another common symptom of a heart attack that can make you feel like gasping for air. You must know that you may experience shortness of breath while engaging in light physical activity or even while sitting idle.
This symptom can also come alongside chest pain which may make you sweat profusely. If both of these symptoms come together and don’t resolve even after 10-15 minutes then without any delay you must visit the best heart specialist in Siliguri.
3. Sweating
Another warning sign of a heart attack is sweating more than normal. The cold sweats even when you’re not exercising can be caused due to clogged arteries since in such cases, your heart will be putting extra pressure to pump blood.
Additionally, the sudden cold sweats can also be caused to maintain the body temperature because the extra exertion may tend to increase your temperature. In some instances, women suffering from a heart attack may also suffer from night sweats that can cause sleeping disturbances.
4. Irregular heartbeat
Irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations can also be a symptom of a heart attack when you may feel that you have skipped a heartbeat. Certain changes in your heart rhythm such as intense throbbing or pounding can also be caused due to a heart issue.
You must know that your body follows a steady beat and abnormalities in it can be caused due to blood flow issues. Women are more likely to experience heart palpitations which often increase the chances of developing anxiety and pounding in the neck.
5. Fatigue
One may also develop fatigue if they’re experiencing a heart attack. You must know that this symptom is difficult to recognize among women which can make you feel exhausted or tired for no significant reason. This exhaustion is mainly caused when your heart puts extra pressure to pump blood through the blocked areas.
You must note that shortness of breath and fatigue are the early signs of a heart attack which one may develop even before a few months. Remember that reporting this early sign can save you from an attack.
6. Pain in other parts of the body
Not just chest pain, a heart attack can cause persistent pain in other parts of your body as well. Starting from your back and upper abdomen to your shoulders, teeth, and neck, the pain can gradually spread everywhere in your upper body.
In most cases, the chest pain usually starts spreading from the left arm and then leads to the lower regions of the chest. You must note that upper back pain due to a heart attack is more common among women.
7. Light-headedness
Another symptom that can be caused by a heart attack is dizziness or light-headedness. This is also one of the symptoms that is highly reported by women suffering from the attack. In most cases, people feel like they would lose consciousness if they’re overexerting themselves or standing for a longer period.
This sign can feel quite normal but can be a major warning sign of a heart attack which needs to be reported immediately to a renowned cardiologist in Siliguri. You may often experience light-headedness before or after chest pain.
8. Numbness
Similar to a symptom of a stroke, a heart attack can also cause weakness or numbness in the face, leg, or arms. The blockage in the coronary artery is considered the main reason for heart attack and this can cause restricted blood flow throughout the body.
This issue can be the main reason behind the symptom of numbness in the left arm. You should note that this numbness can also feel like a prickling or tingling sensation in some of the parts of your body that may spread gradually.
9. Wheezing
Abnormal fluid build-up is a common issue with a heart attack. This is why you may start experiencing extreme wheezing and chronic coughing with phlegm. If this symptom is not managed at the right time then it can also lead to chronic asthma along with a heart attack.
You must take wheezing as a medical emergency and contact the doctor immediately as it can be a major sign of heart attack. Herein, even after getting treatment for a heart attack, the fluid build-up can cause severe respiratory distress.
10. Anxiety
You should note that a sudden heart attack may feel like a post-traumatic stress disorder. This shocking experience can make you suffer from an anxiety or panic attack. Therefore, if you’re feeling anxious suddenly without any reason or triggers then it can be a sign of a heart attack.
Rapid heart rate or heart palpitations can also be contributing reasons for the ongoing anxiety. However, in most cases, people confuse a panic attack with a heart attack. This is why it is crucial to contact the doctor who can detect whether it is a heart attack or not.
11. Stomach issues
The gastrointestinal symptoms are often the most ignored sign of a heart attack. Most people suffering from indigestion or heartburn often think of it as normal food-related issues and rely upon over-the-counter medications or home remedies.
However, ignoring these symptoms can delay the treatment since stomach issues are considered the most common warning sign of heart attack among older people. If you get the signal of any indigestion then visit a hospital immediately for further diagnosis and treatment.
12. Pale skin
Paleness or greyish tone in the skin can be another warning of a heart attack. The lack of oxygen in the blood that you may experience during a heart attack can be considered the main reason behind the skin changes. Before a few days of the attack, you may appear pale and sweaty.
You must know that nausea, exertion, and fatigue are some of the other symptoms of a heart attack that may cause paleness. A silent heart attack may also cause this symptom which indicates that something is not right inside the body.
If you experience any of these signs then don’t wait and contact a cardiologist in Siliguri immediately for emergency services. After reaching the hospital, you will be urgently taken for an echocardiogram that can measure the electrical activity of your heart and diagnose a heart attack. The doctor will then curate a personalized treatment plan to minimize heart damage.
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