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Warning Signs Of Heart Attack Everyone Must Know!

It is very saddening to learn about the loss of young people due to manageable (in most cases) conditions like heart attacks. When in doubt, one must consult a doctor and get yourself examined. It is always better to be safe than sorry -says Dr. Saurabh Deshpande, a senior cardiologist from Mumbai.

Lack of awareness about the signs and symptoms of a heart attack becomes the prime reason behind the delay in treatment or even death in many patients. Read on the following signs and symptoms that a person experiencing a heart attack may feel-

Pain in the arm, shoulders, jaw, neck, back and especially on one side of the body.

  Tightness / pain /discomfort in chest

Sweating for no apparent reason

Lightheadedness

 Shortness of breath

 Fatigue

 Blurry vision

 Palpitations

 Coughing

 Headache 

 Nausea or Vomiting

  Indigestion or bloating 

What should be done in case a person experiences one or more of the above mentioned symptoms:

Do’sDont’s
Visit the nearest hospital without delay.Do not waste time on home remedies
If you are a known patient of heart disease and your doctor has given you some medicines for emergency use, consult the doctor on phone and immediately take the prescribed medicines and then rush to the hospital.Do not try to self medicate 
Try to keep yourself calm and relaxed but act fast.Do not engage in exercises or walking to comfort the uneasiness

Can a person reduce the risk of a heart attack?

One can opt for healthy diet and lifestyle choices to keep his/her heart-healthy. Here are a few tips to follow:

Say no to smoking and alcohol.

Monitor your blood pressure levels regularly. 

Reduce the consumption of packaged, deep-fried and processed foods and choose a healthy and balanced diet.

Monitor your blood glucose levels to keep diabetes and other blood sugar related complications at bay.

Stay active and do a minimum of 20 minutes of exercise regularly.

Manage your stress and anxiety

Maintain your body weight in a healthy range.

Get regular health checkups done.

It is important to spread awareness about the signs of heart attack and the necessity to visit a hospital without delay to minimise the unexpected deaths due to unidentified symptoms of a heart attack. With the right knowledge and healthy lifestyle choices, we can create a healthier and happier world together.

This article is written by Dr. Nikita Toshi and reviewed by Dr. Saurabh Deshpande MBBS, MD, DM (Cardiology)

Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.

7

World Heart Day – 5 Unique Heart Facts

Your heart is arguably the most important muscle in your body. It toils away tirelessly without any complaints to keep you going, and that is why it deserves some tender loving care. This World Heart Day, let’s go through a few facts about the heart.

1. The heart doesn’t tire –

While you may find yourself angry and exasperated when you have to do more work than usual, your heart is doing a lot of grunt work without any protest. This small organ, which is the size of your closed fist, beats at least 100,000 times a day! That amounts to 60-100 beats per minute. Imagine the amount of stress your heart has to endure to pump blood to all corners of your body 24/7!

2. Your heart rate changes all your life –

You might think your heart beats the same number of times all your life, but actually, your heart rate is not constant. As you age, your heart rate dwindles.  

Here’s a chart detailing the average heart rate of various age groups –

When you perform strenuous physical activity, or when your body releases an excess of adrenaline, your heart rate escalates. Similarly, your resting heart rate will be lower than when you are active. This is because when you sleep, your metabolism slows down. That slows down your parasympathetic nervous system that is responsible for regulating your heart rate.

Your resting heart rate can predict your longevity, the health of your heart and even indicate if there is a possibility of you contracting heart ailments.

3. No distinction –

While the world has still not embraced equality between the genders, heart ailments do not discriminate between man and woman. One of the most important human heart facts is that both men and women are equally prone to a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

4. Different symptoms, same problem –

What many people do not know is that the symptoms of heart attack are different for men and women.    

Common heart attack symptoms in women are-

Men on the other hand experience-

Unbearable pain in the chest

5. But not everyone is equally prone to heart attacks –

Your physical activity level determines your risk factor. There are plenty of studies that have proved that an active lifestyle and regular exercise halve the possibility of heart-related ailments. Similarly, sitting for long stretches of time can also significantly affects your possibility of getting heart attacks.  

Your heart is precious beyond measure. There are several things you can do to safeguard it. Eat healthily and steer clear of smoking and alcohol. Squeeze in 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 times a week. Preventive heart check-ups are also imperative.  

If you opt for regular blood pressure monitoring and cholesterol tests, your doctor will know how healthy your heart is and if any sign of a distressed heart shows up, you could begin treatment right away.  

So, this world heart day, take a pledge to keep your heart happy and healthy.  

Also Read: Take Care of Your Heart: Foods To Avoid If You Have Heart Palpitations

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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