Cardiologist Shares Early Signs of a Heart Attack

Recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack early can help save your life or the lives of those around you, according to the Hindustan Times (India).

Monisola Adanijo, a cardiologist in India, shares the early signs of a heart attack.

Chest pain or discomfort

Pain can manifest in many forms such as a feeling of pressure, squeezing, heaviness, or burning.

The pain is usually located in the center or left side of the chest. The pain may also radiate to other areas such as one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or upper abdomen.

Photo: AI

Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath may occur simultaneously with chest pain or occur independently.

The patient may suddenly feel short of breath even when resting or doing light activities. Feeling out of breath or gasping for air is an obvious symptom that should not be ignored.

Cold sweat

Sweating spells often appear suddenly and for no apparent reason, and are the body's response to an abnormal heart rhythm.

Nausea or vomiting

Some people, especially women, may feel nauseous or vomit during a heart attack.

This symptom is easily confused with digestive problems such as indigestion or food poisoning, causing many people to be subjective and not think of cardiovascular causes.

Dizziness or lightheadedness

The patient may feel dizzy, want to fall or lose balance when standing. This phenomenon occurs when the heart does not pump enough blood to the brain, leading to a lack of oxygen and instability, according to Ms. Monisola.

Unusual fatigue

Feeling tired for a long time without any clear cause, even after resting, can be a warning from the body.

When the heart starts to function less efficiently, it makes the patient feel exhausted, heavy and unable to concentrate on anything.

Pain in areas other than the chest

In addition to the chest, a heart attack can manifest in the shoulders, arms, jaw, neck, or back. These symptoms are often vague and can easily be mistaken for bone or muscle problems.

Especially in women, pain symptoms in other areas often appear more often than in men, making timely recognition and treatment difficult.

Ms. Monisola warns that all of the above signs are very important and should not be taken lightly. If you or a loved one has any of the above symptoms, you should quickly go to the nearest medical facility for timely examination and intervention.

Early action is key to saving lives, Ms Monisola said.