Sign,Symptom & Cause of heart attack!

Sign:

Chest pain

Heart attacks typically involve pain or discomfort in the chest’s middle or left side. It may feel like a tight, heavy squeezing, fullness, or uncomfortable pressure. Less commonly, it can feel like a sharp pain.

Difficulty breathing

Usually, this accompanies chest pain. However, shortness of breath may also begin before any chest discomfort.

Upper body pain

A person may feel pain or discomfort in one or both arms, typically the left one, which can radiate to the shoulders. This pain does not typically feel worse with movement, as with musculoskeletal or arthritis pain. There may also be pain in the neck, jaw, or back.

Feeling lightheaded

An individual may feel weak, faint, or break out into a cold sweat.

Signs of a heart attack in females

The following are common heart attack symptoms in females that can occur with or without chest pain:

weakness that occurs suddenly

extreme shortness of breath

nausea, indigestion, or other digestive upsets

all over body aches

a general feeling of being unwell

discomfort in the back or upper body

Since people commonly associate heart attacks with chest pain, females may misread their symptoms and delay consulting a healthcare professional.

It is important that individuals, especially females, recognize heart attack symptoms that may be atypical and seek immediate medical care when necessary.

Signs of a heart attack in older adults

According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA)Trusted Source, people who are 65 years old or older are more likely to experience a heart attack, stroke, or develop heart disease.

Older people who have diabetes or high blood pressure may also be more likelyTrusted Source to experience asymptomatic or silent heart attacks.

During a silent heart attack, someone may experience no symptoms and feel relatively well apart from feeling unusually tired or short of breath. They may also show one or more of the signs relating to heart attacks in females.

What to do in case of a heart attack

The National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute (NHLBI)Trusted Source states that swift action could save someone’s life in the case of a heart attack.

Doctors consider a heart attack a medical emergency. Even if an individual is not certain they are experiencing a heart attack, they should contact emergency services right away. Acting fast and seeking emergency treatment can help limit or prevent damage to the heart.

Causes and risk factors for heart attack

If the heart does not receive oxygenated blood, it cannot function properly, which can cause a heart attack. This can happen when a coronary artery is partially or fully blocked.

The most common cause of blocked coronary arteries is coronary heart disease.

When coronary heart disease occurs, fats and cholesterol can form deposits or plaques on the arterial walls, which doctors call atherosclerosis.

Over time, the plaques narrow the arteries, and eventually, this obstructs blood flow.

Using recreational drugs, such as cocaine, can also causeTrusted Source heart attacks.

Risk factors

Several factors can increaseTrusted Source an individual’s risk of a heart attack. These include being age 65 years or over, being male, or having a family history of heart disease.

There are also modifiable factors that may increase the risk of heart attacks. These include:

smoking

alcohol consumption

obesity

a sedentary lifestyle

high cholesterol and blood pressure

diabetes

stress

It is possible to change, treat, or control the modifiable risk factors to reduce someone’s risk of experiencing a heart attack.

What are the four silent signs of a heart attack?

Some people may not experience any symptoms of a silent heart attack. However, others may experience symptoms that seem unrelated to a heart attack. Four of these symptoms include prolonged fatigue, indigestion, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

How can you tell if a heart attack is coming?

For some people, a heart attack is sudden. However, they can also beginTrusted Source slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Signs include:

chest discomfort

discomfort in other parts of the body, such as:

one or both arms

jaw

back

neck

stomach

shortness of breath

cold sweats

lightheadedness

nausea

Can a heart attack be in the right arm?

A heart attack can cause pain in one or both arms. Although it usually affects the left arm, it can also affect the right arm.