{"id":4387,"date":"2024-04-29T03:07:41","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T10:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthsecret.com\/?p=4387"},"modified":"2024-04-29T08:57:31","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T15:57:31","slug":"heart-attack-symptom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthsecret.com\/heart-attack-symptom\/","title":{"rendered":"Identifying a Heart Attack Symptom: From Chest Pain to Shortness of Breath"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Identifying a Heart Attack Symptom: <\/span>From Chest Pain to Shortness of Breath<\/h1>\r\nHeart attacks happen so often and can affect anyone no matter what their ethnicity, race, or sex. I am sure you know at least one person, either a friend, family member, or an acquaintance who has experienced a heart attack. A heart attack symptom can vary depending on age, gender and if the person has a chronic disease so it\u2019s vital to know all the facts. That\u2019s why it is important to learn more about heart attacks to understand how they occur and why. Knowing the heart attack warning signs could save your life or the life of someone else.<\/span>\r\nWe are going to talk about heart attack symptoms, how to spot them, and what to do when you feel like you\u2019re having one.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThis blog will take you through how to prevent a heart attack for optimum heart health. We’ll discuss the risk factors. Also, if you or a loved one has already experienced a heart attack, we have included information on recovery and the next steps.<\/span>\r\n

What Is a Heart Attack?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\"What\r\n\r\nThe heart muscle needs the blood vessels to bring oxygen to it to survive. This oxygen-rich blood flows to the heart by the coronary arteries. When the blood flow decreases or the arteries are blocked then you experience a heart attack. It could be partially or fully blocked for a heart attack to occur. The medical term for a <\/span>heart attack<\/span><\/a> is myocardial infarction (MI).<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe heart arteries or coronary arteries can be blocked when matter like cholesterol, other substances, and fat accumulates in them over time. These are commonly referred to as plaques and the medical term for their accumulation is atherosclerosis. A blocked coronary artery is a slow process which is why there are no early warning signs and symptoms. When the plaque breaks as it gets damaged, platelets are let loose causing a blood clot to be formed. These blood clots then cluster around the plaque which blocks blood flow because there is no space to pump blood through the artery. When the blood flow is slowed down the heart muscle tissue gets damaged significantly and then a heart attack occurs. Once the blood is decreased the areas of blockage cause damage to that heart muscle and could even destroy it over time.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThere are two types of blockages:<\/span>\r\n

Partial Blockage<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\nA non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction(NSTEMI).<\/span> Blood flow is still dangerously l<\/span>ow in the blood vessels and can cause permanent damage to the heart muscles and heart.<\/span>\r\n

Full Blockage<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\nA ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) whereby quite a big area of the heart muscle is not getting blood via the blood vessel, causing a lot of damage. It is a critical heart attack requiring prompt treatment to restore blood flow and dissolve blood clots in the blocked artery.<\/span>\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s important to note the longer it takes to improve blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle. Th<\/span>is heart muscle m<\/span>ight die if i<\/span>t doesn’t receive the proper treatment on time.<\/span>\r\n

How Long Does a Heart Attack Last?<\/span><\/h2>\r\nOnce a heart attack starts the symptoms last as long as 10 minutes. They may also stop and start again for a couple of hours. Heart attacks can involve pain or discomfort but a lot of the time symptoms of a heart attack won\u2019t be as acute. The warning signs can be different from person to person.<\/span>\r\n

Types of Heart Attacks<\/h2>\r\nOnce <\/span>you have a heart attack the heart muscle is damage could lead to different things:<\/span>\r\n

Sudden Cardiac Arrest<\/span><\/h3>\r\nThe heart stops beating completely but this doesn\u2019t mean death. The person doesn\u2019t respond to being spoken to or touched, they are not moving, and it appears that they are not breathing. P<\/span>erforming CPR or using a defibrillator needs to <\/span>occur.<\/span>\r\n

Cardiogenic Shock<\/span><\/h3>\r\nThe heart goes into shock and stops pumping blood throughout the body because the heart muscle is extremely damaged and can\u2019t function as it should. This is a medical emergency that could lead to organ failure if not treated immediately to restore blood flow.<\/span>\r\n

Post-cardiac Injury Syndrome (PCIS)<\/span><\/h3>\r\nAlso called Dressler Syndrome or Post-myocardial Infarction Syndrome. The pericarditis which is the sac-like tissue surrounding the heart inflames. This inflammation is the body\u2019s immune system response to the injury caused by the heart attack.<\/span>\r\n

Heart Failure<\/span><\/h3>\r\nSometimes known as congestive heart failure, this occurs when the heart cannot pump blood as it normally would from either being too weak or too stiff. This usually becomes a chronic condition requir<\/span>ing other means to p<\/span>ump the blood.<\/span>\r\n

Arrhythmias<\/span><\/h3>\r\nThe electric signals mov<\/span>ing through the heart are in disarray which changes the way the heart beats. The result is a fast or uneven heartbeat.<\/span>\r\n

What Causes Heart Attacks?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)<\/span><\/h3>\r\nCoronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease and is the main cause of heart attacks. Often people only know they have this once they have already had a heart attack.<\/span>\r\n

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)<\/span><\/h3>\r\nThis heart attack happens when the coronary artery tear<\/span>s inside.<\/span> C<\/span>ommonly occurs in people with Marfan Syndrome, pregnant women, and people under 50.<\/span>\r\n

Cardiac Ischemia<\/span><\/h3>\r\nBlood flow reduces giving the heart muscle limited oxygen. This leads to that muscle becoming damaged and when that happens a heart attack occurs.<\/span>\r\n

Coronary Artery Spasm<\/span><\/h3>\r\nWhen the blood vessel isn\u2019t blocked but is squeezed extensively the coronary artery starts to spasm causing a heart attack. This can be caused by illegal drugs smoking etc. Also called unstable angina, variant angina, Prinzmetal\u2019s angina, silent heart attacks, or vasospastic angina. There is generally no permanent damage caused but it does increase the risk of a more severe heart attack in the future.<\/span>\r\n

Infection<\/span><\/h3>\r\nViral infections can damage heart muscles which can cause a heart attack e.g. COVID-19, and influenza. Also, parasites, bacteria, and fungal infections.<\/span>\r\n

Heart Attack Symptoms<\/span><\/h2>\r\nThe warning signs of heart attacks involve discomfort, especially chest discomfort as we are led to believe but the symptoms of a heart attack can be very different. Heart attack symptoms could occur straight away or even weeks before ranging from mild pain to crushing pain. Sometimes people experience no visible symptoms because it is too early to feel anything as the plaque starts to build up. It differs from person to person but generally, the more symptoms someone is experiencing then the greater the chance that they are having a heart attack.<\/span>\r\n\r\nHigh Anxiety<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\nRapid heart rate and fast breathing that feels very much like a panic attack.<\/span>\r\n\r\nShortness of breath<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\nTrouble breathing and there may be no signs of chest pains when this occurs but often it follows after.<\/span>\r\n\r\nFatigue<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\nAn extreme lack of energy makes it difficult to move.<\/span>\r\n\r\nChest Discomfort<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\n\"Chest\r\n\r\nChest pain or discomfort feels like an ache, uncomfortable pressure, squeezing tightness, or chest pain on the left side or in the middle of the chest. It might also feel like a sharp pain but that is not a common symptom. The chest pain will not be constant, it will come and go.<\/span>\r\n\r\nWheezing or coughing<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\nFluid starts to build up in the lungs causing cardiac asthma.<\/span>\r\n\r\nVomiting or Nausea<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\nThis isn\u2019t a very common symptom but sometimes people experience extreme nausea causing them to vomit.<\/span>\r\n\r\nFeeling Faint, Unexpected Dizziness, or Light-headedness<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe lack of oxygen pumping through the blood causes this.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBody Pain<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\nPain or discomfort that spreads to the upper stomach, across the shoulders, teeth, arm, jaw, back or neck, one or both arms but mostly the left arm. By moving any of these body parts the pain does not get worse.<\/span>\r\n\r\nHeartburn or Indigestion<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\nUnlike the other symptoms of a heart attack, this is often a mild symptom.<\/span>\r\n\r\nCold Sweat<\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\nYou may experience a cold sweat or have clammy skin. Feels the same as sweating when one has the flu.<\/span>\r\n

Heart Attack Warning Signs in Women<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\"Lower\r\n\r\nA heart attack is different in women with unusual signs and symptoms. <\/span>The<\/span>re is a significant difference between males and female heart attacks. Women commonly also don\u2019t feel any chest pain when having a heart attack. Women commonly also don\u2019t feel any chest pain when having a heart attack.<\/span>\r\n\r\nSymptoms include:<\/span>\r\n