Cardiovascular and coronary artery diseases are one of the main reasons of occurrence of heart attacks which is the reason of more than 1 million deaths every year in the USA only.
Heart attack happens when the heart becomes starved of oxygen rich blood due to blood restriction in a certain part of your body. The blood restrictions are usually caused by plaque build-up which blocks the arteries. Plaque causes blood clots that prevent the blood from flowing properly.
Cardiovascular diseases often show no previous symptoms or signs or they are so subtle that you can’t event recognize them. According to experts our bodies give us several warnings before or during a heart attack. Unfortunately most people don’t know these symptoms and are unaware of them. Also, many people ignore the symptoms until it is too late and don’t seek any medical assistance or treatment which can be fatal.
Detecting cardiovascular diseases on time is very important. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study which shows that 92% of heart attack survivors have experienced chest discomfort. Sadly just 27% of them knew what this symptom indicates.
These are the 6 most common symptoms of a heart attack that you might not be aware of
- Shortness of breath
In case you don’t suffer from a condition that could be causing it such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, shortness of breath could be a sign that you are having a heart attack. Shortness of breath especially if accompanied by dizziness are very common symptoms of cardiovascular diseases.
- Chest pain
Chest pain can happen for many different reasons such as lack of vitamins and minerals, muscle cramping, pulmonary disease etc. This symptom is linked to heart attack too especially if it occurs under the breast bone or slightly on the left side of your torso.
- Dizziness
If you experience shortness of breath, irregular and fast heart rate, weakness and dizziness at the same time you should immediately seek medical assistance. These symptoms could indicate a sudden heart attack as well as arrhythmia and heart failure. This condition requires treatment otherwise it can have detrimental effects on the health.
- Fatigue
Fatigue can sometimes indicate a heart attack even before it occurs. Women are more likely to experience this symptom prior to experiencing a heart attack.
- Persistent cough
This symptom is a little tricky because it rarely indicates issues with the heart. However if you already have a history of heart problems or you have an increased risk, you should pay more attention to this symptom. Heart failure can also manifest through a persistent cough that produces white or pink mucus. This is a result of the inability of the heart to supply the body with enough blood which leads to blood leaking into the lungs.
- Swelling
Since the heart is already having trouble to keep up and is unable to pump enough blood through the whole body, swelling may occur. The swelling usually affects the ankles, feet and legs.
We hope that you will take these symptoms more seriously and that they could help you save your or the life of someone else who is having a heart attack. It is very important to consult your doctor as soon as you can if you notice any of the symptoms.