Even though heart attacks are fairly common, and a lot of people these days survive them, there is still a wide gap between actual knowledge about heart attacks, and what the public largely gleaned from movies. Real heart attacks are often more difficult to detect, and can appear in very subtle ways. Knowing these signs can be great utility that could save your life, so this article will be exploring just a few of the signs that you might be having a heart attack.
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| Heart Sisters |
Common Symptoms
When someone is beginning to have a heart attack, it’s not always clear that a heart attack is what is happening. Some people may have a range of symptoms and not others. Some these include the chest tightness, or heavy feeling and discomfort. Sometimes this discomfort can go away and then return suddenly. You might experience pain that radiates from the chest and out into extremities or limbs. This is often accompanied by a shortness of breath, or breaking out in a cold sweat. You could experience nausea or lightheadedness. This often happens because blood is having difficulty reaching its destination in the body.
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| Cedars-Sinai Blog |
In Women
It’s important to take note that women can experience heart attack without any chest tightness. It’s common for them to dismiss discomfort or limb numbness as simple illness out of societal pressure or fear of disappointing their families. Women commonly have missed symptoms, so pay very close attention to your body.
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| SlideShare |
The Cough
In itself, a cough usually doesn’t mean anything serious, but there a few things that it would be a very good idea to watch. This is especially true if you are a person who has been diagnosed with some form of heart disease, or if you are in the high-risk category. If you have a cough that won’t quit, and you have white or pinkish mucus coming up, then that could very well be a sign of heart failure. When the heart is too weak to pump blood properly, blood leaks into your lungs, then irritating the lungs and coloring the mucus. If you have these symptoms, it’s important to contact your doctor immediately.
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| CDC |
Act Quickly For The Best Outcome
No matter who is suffering these symptoms, it’s important to act quickly before things escalate.
As soon as symptoms appear, call your emergency service. If the person in question loses consciousness, every minute counts.
