What are the signs of a heart attack?
Myocardial infarction, commonly termed heart attack, is one of the most common cardiac problems. It can occur for various reasons, from hypertension to obesity and diabetes. Since it is a life-threatening cardiac issue, having proper knowledge about the causes, symptoms, actions, and treatment is crucial.
If the patient suffered from a heart attack receives proper treatment on time, the chances of survival; are more. But if there is a gap in between, it won’t be possible for doctors to save the life. People often fail to recognize the signs of heart attack as the general symptoms are almost similar to that of digestive diseases, costochondritis, etc.
Keeping this in mind, we have described some of the most crucial facts you must know about heart attacks, from the probable causes to the signs you should look for.
What are the causes of a heart attack?
Several reasons exist for a person suffering from a heart attack. You won't be able to differentiate the symptoms with ease if you are not aware of the causes in the first place. Therefore, we have discussed the most common heart attack issues as per the surveys.
1. Type I heart attack is a medical condition when plaque builds up on the inner walls of the heart and the blood vessels, restricting blood flow and forcing the heart to apply high pressure to distribute the blood.
2. Type II heart attack is said to be when the coronary artery does not receive enough oxygen. As a result, the tissues of the cardiac muscles deaden temporarily, causing myocardial infarction.
3. Sometimes, misuse of drugs, especially the ones containing components like alprazolam, clonazepam, and so on, can lead to heart attacks.
How to identify if it is a heart attack?
There are several types of symptoms that signify the person is suffering from a heart attack. To begin with, pain in the left or central part of the chest, just beside the sternum, can symbolize a heart attack. But in most cases, the pain happens due to neural problems in the cardiac muscles, costochondritis in the rib cages and costal muscles, or ingestion.
Therefore, you cannot consider chest pain the sole indicator of a heart attack. In this following section, we have discussed the signs you must look for.
1. Shortness of breath: As the heart cannot pump blood into the lungs, oxygen won't reach the tissues; hence, you will feel difficulties in breathing.
2. Pain radiating in the left arm: Another confusing but proper indicator of heart attack is the radiating chest pain along the left arm. However, this pain is excruciating, as if someone squeezes the hands tight. If someone has a tingling sensation, it is mainly a neural problem.
3. Excessive and profuse sweating is also another cause of heart attack. The cells cannot distribute the heat evenly, which increases the body's temperature, causing excessive sweating.
4. Dizziness and blurred vision: Often, during a heart attack, the brain cells do not receive the appropriate oxygen level. As a result, the patient may feel dizzy. It is often accompanied by blurred vision due to the less active neurons.
What steps should you follow if you identify a heart attack?
Once you identify these symptoms in a patient, you should immediately take the person to the hospital without wasting time. Use the oximeter to check whether the oxygen levels are dropping. If it is below 80, the condition is severe, and the patient will need immediate oxygen supply, which may lead to heart failure.
Conclusion
In this brief, we have shared the symptoms that can lead to a heart attack. Often people confuse these signs with that of indigestion or angina. Therefore, do remember the medical history. If the patient suffers from depression and stress or has a history of obesity, high blood pressure, and more, they will be at higher risk. For more information, visit the hospital’s official website.