Heart attack is quite a frightening event. Almost half of the patients who experience heart attack die suddenly before they can reach a hospital. This is why it becomes all the more imperative to learn about warning signs of heart attack & as to what steps can be taken for a person to save life.
People at Risk of Heart Attack
Most people think that heart attack predominantly is a male problem. Yet heart problems are actually the number one killer in both men & women. While risk of heart attack significantly increases in men after 45 years of age, it is more likely to occur among women after menopause which is usually after the age of 50 years. However, nowadays young men & women are also found to be having heart attacks.
- Factors Increasing Risk of Heart Attacks
- Previous heart attacks
- Previous procedures for opening coronary arteries
- Family history of heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Diabetes mellitus
- Overweight
- Cigarette smoking
- Physical inactivity
People having any one or more of these risk factors should see the healthcare provider in order to understand as to how to reduce risk of having a heart attack.
What Happens During Heart Attacks
It is typically a clot within the heart’s artery which blocks flow of blood to the heart during a heart attack. This prompts the portion of the heart muscle to die due to lack of blood supply. Technically, a heart attack is known as ‘myocardial infarction’ or death of heart muscle in other words. Eventually, this damage becomes greater with passage of time without any treatment. Moreover, the portion of heart muscle which dies during an episode of heart attack cannot either be repaired or grown back.
Treatment Options for Heart Attack
There are many clot-busting medications & artery-opening procedures like angioplasty which can effectively check heart attacks. These treatments are meant to prevent or limit damage to heart if they are given at the beginning of symptoms. They should be started as early as possible when a person is experiencing symptoms & which will then provide greater chances of full recovery. These treatments should be given within one hour of onset of heart attack symptoms to be most effective since benefits of opening the blocked coronary artery decreases with each passing hour.
Signs & Symptoms of Heart Attack
While most people think that heart attack is a sudden & intense episode, the truth is that they often begin as mild discomfort located at the center of the chest. Moreover, many patients who feel such a warning are not even sure as to what is wrong. Sometimes, discomfort & other symptoms may even come & go. Even people who have had earlier experienced heart attacks in past may not recognize these signs as the new one may be having entirely different type of symptoms. Here are some warning signs of heart attacks, but it would be sensible to remember that even if one is not sure that this heart problem is a heart attack, it would be sensible to still check it out promptly.
Warning Signs of Heart Attack
- Discomfort in Chest – Many heart attacks involve experiencing discomfort at the center of chest. This usually lasts for over a few minutes of time or goes away to return later. This is a kind of discomfort which feels like uncomfortable fullness, squeezing or pressure.
- Other Areas of Upper Body Experiencing Discomfort – This symptom of heart attack can include discomfort in stomach, jaw, neck, back or in either one or both arms.
- Shortness of Breath – Quite often this symptom accompanies discomfort in chest but can also occur prior to experiencing discomfort in chest.
- Other Signs of Heart Attack – These other signs commonly include light-headedness, nausea or breaking out in cold sweat. Some heart attack patients have also reported experiencing a sense of impending doom.
Affordable Treatments for Heart Problems in India
India has emerged as a leading global medical tourism destination over the past few decades for international patients seeking high quality of affordable medical procedures beyond borders. Cardiac surgeons in India are highly reputed to be some of the best in the world & experts in addressing heart problems & performing heart transplant surgery as well. Moreover, overseas patients seeking treatments for heart problems in India can also save substantial amounts of money without compromising on the quality of treatments.
