signs and symptoms of heart attack - early warning signs of heart attack

how can we identify early signs?

When blood flow to the heart is blocked, a heart attack occurs. A blockage occurs when fat, cholesterol and other substances build up in the arteries feeding the heart (coronary arteries).

Plaques can rupture and form clots that block blood flow. Interrupted blood flow can cause damage to the heart.

Myocardial infarctions, also known as heart attacks, are potentially fatal, but treatment has improved dramatically over the years. It's crucial to call 911 or emergency medical help if you think you might be having a heart attack.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Pain, pressure, squeezing, or aching in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw, or back
• Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, or stomach pain
• Breathing problems
• and cold sweat
• tiredness
• dizziness or lightheadedness

Symptoms of heart attacks vary

Heart attacks are not all the same or have the same severity of symptoms. Some people experience mild pain, and others experience severe pain. Others do not experience any symptoms at all. For others, sudden cardiac arrest may be the first sign. You're more likely to have a heart attack if you have more signs and symptoms.

Heart attacks can strike suddenly, but most people have warning signs and symptoms hours, days, or weeks in advance. 

Angina (recurrent chest pain or pressure that's triggered by activity and relieved by rest) is the earliest warning sign. 

Angina is due to a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart.

what is angina?

How to know when to see a doctor?

Take action immediately. People wait too long because they don't recognize the important signs and symptoms. Follow these steps:

• Get emergency medical help. Don't hesitate to seek medical attention if you suspect you're having a heart attack. Dial 911 or your local emergency number right away. If you do not have access to emergency medical services, ask someone to drive you to the nearest hospital. If you have no other option, drive yourself. Driving yourself puts you and others at risk because your condition may worsen.

• If your doctor prescribes nitroglycerin, take it. Take it as directed while waiting for emergency assistance.

• If aspirin is prescribed, take it. Aspirin can reduce heart damage during a heart attack by preventing blood clotting. Do not take an aspirin unless your doctor or emergency medical personnel recommend it. Call 911 immediately if you need to take an aspirin. Get emergency help first.

What to do if you see someone who may be having a heart attack?

You should call emergency medical help if you see someone unconscious who seems to be having a heart attack. Make sure the person is breathing and has a pulse. Only if the person is not breathing or there is no pulse should you begin CPR.

Press hard and fast on the person's chest in a fairly rapid rhythm - about 100 to 120 compressions per minute.

Doctors recommend that you only perform chest compressions if you have not been trained in CPR. After you have been trained in CPR, you can move on to opening the airway and rescuing breathing.

Detailed Information

Reasons

During a heart attack, one or more of your coronary arteries become blocked. Plaques are formed over time by the buildup of fatty deposits, including cholesterol, which narrows the arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition is the leading cause of heart attacks.

A ruptured plaque can leak cholesterol and other substances into the bloodstream during a heart attack. Blood clots form at the site of the rupture. A large clot can block blood flow through the coronary artery, depriving the heart of oxygen and nutrients (ischemia).

It is possible that you have a complete or partial blockage of the coronary artery.

• When you have a complete blockage, you have had an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
• You have a partial blockage if you have had a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).
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Depending on the type of cancer you have had, you may need a different diagnosis and treatment.

A spasm of a coronary artery can also cause a heart attack by cutting off blood flow to part of the heart muscle. Tobacco and illicit drugs, such as cocaine, can cause life-threatening spasms.

A COVID-19 infection may also cause heart damage and result in a heart attack.

Factors that increase risk

There are several factors that contribute to the buildup of fat deposits in the arteries (atherosclerosis). Several of these risk factors can be improved or eliminated to reduce your risk of having a heart attack.

Risk factors for heart attacks include:

• The age. Heart attacks are more likely to occur in older men and women than in younger ones.

• Tobacco use. This includes smoking or long-term exposure to secondhand smoke.

• A high blood pressure level. High blood pressure can damage the arteries that lead to your heart over time. In addition to high blood pressure, other conditions, such as obesity, high cholesterol, or diabetes, increase your risk.

• High levels of cholesterol or triglycerides. The most likely cause of narrow arteries is a high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol). Triglycerides are a type of blood fat related to your diet that also increases your risk of a heart attack. In contrast, a high level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) may reduce your risk.

• Overweight. High cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes are associated with obesity. By losing just 10% of your body weight, you can reduce these risks.

• Having diabetes. Your body's blood sugar levels rise if your pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or if it does not respond to insulin properly, increasing the risk of a heart attack.

• This is called metabolic syndrome. When you have obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar, you have metabolic syndrome. You are twice as likely to develop heart disease if you have metabolic syndrome.

• Heart attacks run in your family. You might be at an increased risk if your siblings, parents, or grandparents have had early heart attacks (by age 55 for males and 65 for females).

• Lack of exercise. Obesity and high blood cholesterol are linked to inactivity. People who regularly exercise have better heart health, including lower blood pressure.

• Stress is reduced. Stress can increase your risk of a heart attack.

• The use of illegal drugs is reduced. Stimulant drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines, can cause a spasm in your coronary arteries that can lead to a heart attack.

• A preeclampsia history. High blood pressure during pregnancy increases the risk of heart disease throughout life.

• Autoimmune disease. Having rheumatoid arthritis or lupus can increase the risk of a heart attack.

Issues

The damage to your heart during a heart attack can lead to the following complications:

• Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). A short circuit in the electrical system can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, some of which can be fatal.

• Heart attack. The remaining heart muscle might not be able to pump enough blood out of your body after a heart attack. The condition of heart failure can be temporary, or it can be chronic, the result of extensive and permanent damage to the heart.

• Cardiac arrest. An electrical disturbance causes an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) and your heart stops without warning. A heart attack can lead to a sudden cardiac arrest, which can cause death if not treated immediately.

Preventive measures

Even if you've already suffered a heart attack, you can still take steps to prevent another one. Here are some tips to avoid a heart attack.

• It involves medication. You can take medications to reduce your risk of a subsequent heart attack and to help your damaged heart function better. Keep taking the medication your doctor prescribes, and ask your doctor how often you need to be monitored.

• Diet and lifestyle factors. Maintain a healthy weight with a heart-healthy diet, don't smoke, exercise constantly, control stress, and control conditions that can lead to a heart attack, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.