Heart attacks happen when plaque buildup blocks blood flow to the heart. In some instances, blood clots can cause heart attacks, too.
Heart attacks are a grave medical emergency, so it’s important for everyone to know the warning signs. Read on to learn more about 11 common heart attack warning signs.
1. Upper Body Pain
Those who have had heart attacks often report experiencing a painful sensation in the upper body, specifically the arms, shoulders, neck, back, jaw, or stomach. While these pains might seem normal, they should not be ignored, especially if they are paired with other signs of a heart attack, such as the following…
2. Chest Pain
Chest pain is perhaps the most obvious warning sign of a heart attack. Chest pains are felt in the center of the chest and are described as a squeezing sensation or a heavy and dull pressure. These usually come and go and last a few minutes at a time.
The following symptom is an early indicator of heart attacks…
3. Breaking Out in Cold Sweats
Sweating more than usual, even during inactivity or in cool temperatures, is considered an early warning sign of heart attacks. This happens as a result of clogged arteries, and it can take more effort for the heart to pump blood. So, the body perspires more to cool down as it exerts this extra effort.
Our next symptom is related to these chest pains…
4. Difficulty Breathing
Like chest pains, breathing problems are also a common symptom of heart attacks. Difficulty breathing happens when the heart is unable to pump blood properly, and it is one of the most common signs of a heart attack in women.
Men tend to experience our next symptom more than women do…
5. Irregular Heartbeats (Arrhythmia)
The plaque that builds up in the arteries is usually made up of fat and cholesterol. It makes regular blood flow especially difficult and puts pressure on the heart. This pressure effectively weakens the heart and can cause irregular heartbeats, which in turn could lead to heart attacks.
The cause of our next symptom can also be linked to poor blood circulation…
6. Lightheadedness
Poor blood circulation can cause dizziness, and given the state of clogged arteries, it’s no surprise that lightheadedness is one of the most common warning signs of a heart attack. In some cases, people pass out while they’re experiencing a heart attack, due to dizziness.
Dizziness can also make your stomach churn in the process, as the next symptom explains…
7. Nausea
As a result of dizziness caused by poor blood circulation, it’s fairly common to feel nauseous during heart attacks. According to one study, its occurrence during heart attacks can be attributed to the stimulation of the autonomic nerve peripheral receptors.
Though not always the case, nausea often results in the following symptom…
8. Cardiogenic Vomiting
Vomiting is almost always a side effect of being nauseous. In cases of a heart attack, however, vomiting can occur due to the metabolites stimulating the infarcted areas’ peripheral receptors. Vomiting can also happen during a heart attack.
The next symptom often precedes heart attacks, but sometimes people mistake it for the real thing…
9. Heartburn
Typically experienced by older people, heart attacks and heartburn pain may feel similar, but they are quite different. For example, heartburn often worsens after eating, causes belches, and does not trigger breathlessness. Regardless, it’s still something to watch out for.
Heart attacks can take their toll on the body, as our next symptom shows…
10. Fatigue
The experience of having a heart attack can feel exhausting. After suffering a heart attack, people tend to experience fatigue, which occurs due to the heart being stressed as it tries to facilitate blood flow through already-clogged arteries.
But did you know that it’s not only the body that suffers from heart attacks?
11. Mental Health Problems
Studies have shown suffering a heart attack can trigger mental health disorders, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, due to sufferers being overwhelmed by the ordeal. As such, they might need psychiatric support and even medication for treatment.
If you or someone you love experiences a heart attack, it’s important to think fast and call emergency services.
