Early Heart Attack Symptoms

Myocardial infarction, which is commonly referred to as heart attack, occurs due to a damage caused to a part of the heart muscle, or due to a blockage in the coronary arteries, that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart.

Damage or death of that part of the heart muscle could even cause death of the affected individual in absence of prompt medical treatment. Various studies have revealed that cardiovascular diseases are the common contributory factors for innumerable deaths worldwide.

Events are organized annually to raise awareness, and inform people about the ways to reduce the risk of having a heart disease. World Heart Day is globally observed on the last Sunday of September each year.

Around 50% of the patients with a history of heart disease have poor knowledge of the symptoms of heart attack. There are early symptoms that forewarn us of the possibility of a heart attack. It is imperative to recognize these symptoms, because time is critical when treating a heart attack.

Did You Know?
About 1.5 million Americans experience a heart attack every year (that's one heart attack every twenty seconds!). Studies show that around 50% of the deaths occur outside the hospital, because the patient did not pay close attention to the symptoms.

The symptoms may vary from person to person, like the symptoms observed in women may differ from men. Men may experience chest pain over the left side first, whereas women may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, severe fatigue, or loss of consciousness. The symptoms may be noticed hours, days, or even weeks in advance.

Let us have a look at the commonly experienced symptoms early on.

Chest pain that spreads out to the left arm - You may sense irritation or pain, like fullness or squeezing in the center of the chest that spreads to the left arm.

Breathing difficulty - You may start coughing severely, and feel breathlessness (dyspnea), or can breathe, but with great difficulty. The pain may last for more than 10-15 minutes, and the discomfort may come and go, in intervals.

Other symptoms are:

• Heartburn
• Pain in the back, jaw, throat, tooth, head, or arm area
• Discomfort following meals, feeling of indigestion
• Irregular heartbeats
• Confusion and severe anxiety, disturbance in the mind, or trouble while speaking or understanding

• Lightheadedness or feeling faint
• Unusual or unexplained weakness, sudden trouble in walking, loss of strength, and balance
• Cold sweat
• Nausea and vomiting may occur, and skin color may turn pale
• Malaise or uneasiness

Poor lifestyle practices like wrong eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, and engaging in activities such as smoking and drinking can make one susceptible to a heart attack.

Coronary heart disease is one of the most common causes of a heart attack. It is characterized by atherosclerosis, which is a stage wherein plaque or fatty deposits accumulate inside the coronary arteries, resulting in blood clots. These clots block the flow of blood and oxygen, thereby narrowing the arteries. Spasm or tightening of the artery can also cause a heart attack.

Angina pectoris is a characteristic sign of a coronary heart disease. It may occur before a full-fledged heart attack. Generally, what happens is that during physical exertion, in cold weather or after a big meal, or during stress, or an emotionally charged situation, the heart beats faster.

The heart requires large amounts of oxygen-rich blood to fulfill its tasks efficiently. But if the channels by which the blood and oxygen flow to the heart are narrowed, not enough nutrients reach the heart muscle tissue. It suffers from oxygen deficiency, and the heart responds with a pain called angina pectoris.

There are three types of angina pectoris, and their symptoms vary from each other.

• Stable Angina: It is a condition caused by the accumulation of plaque in the coronary arteries that severely narrow down the blood vessels of the heart.

This reduces the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart, resulting in chest pain and discomfort that spreads to the jaw, back, shoulders, and arms.

• Unstable Angina: Unstable angina symptoms have no pattern as such; it occurs suddenly and in an unexpected manner. People with unstable angina are at a higher risk of having a heart attack. It acts like a warning sign, and is a precursor of a heart attack.

It is a condition wherein the heart lacks oxygen, causing the cells to die, and may lead to a heart attack. If you experience any type of chest pain, seeking immediate medical attention is very important.

• Variant Angina: Variant angina is also known as Prinzmetal's Angina, and is caused by a spasm in one of the arteries blocking the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. This spasm causes the walls of the artery to tighten and narrow down, thereby causing the blood flow to stop.

Prinzmetal's angina is usually confused with unstable angina as it occurs suddenly and usually when a person is resting or sleeping. A medical practitioner should be consulted, or medical help should be taken immediately.

• Excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs (such as cocaine)
• Age - men over 45 and women over 55 years of age
• Unreasonable level of anxiety or worry (trepidation)
• Patients who have undergone a heart surgery recently, or who have already had a heart attack - both are at a higher risk of having another heart attack

• Family history of heart attacks
• Stress
• Smoking
• Chronic alcoholism
• Lack of physical exercise
• High blood pressure (or hypertension)
• Obesity
• High cholesterol diet
• Diabetes

If a patient is unaware of the early symptoms, he stands a risk of damaging the heart muscle partially or completely.

The best time to treat a heart attack is as soon as you start experiencing the symptoms. Do not postpone the treatment or ignore the symptoms. Holding back just to be sure would only cause more harm to the heart.

A CPR or manual chest compression, and mouth-to-mouth breathing is given to the patient who has stopped breathing, blood-thinning medication like aspirin is also given to stop the blood clot in the artery. The doctor may prescribe angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) and other drugs like statins, niacin, etc., to lower the cholesterol level.

A defibrillator is a medical device that sends electric shocks across the patient's chest. It is used mainly to get the heart started, and to help it continue in a normal rhythm again. Beta blockers may be suggested to stabilize the heart's activity, and to control the elevated blood pressure.

Chest X-ray and CT scan, electrocardiogram (ECG) and coronary angiography are the various diagnostic tests carried out to detect and determine the intensity of the heart blockage. If the patient's heart has been severely damaged, coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft is performed, depending upon the criticality of the situation.

During coronary angiography, a dye is injected into the arteries using a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. The medical equipment releases the dye and special X-rays highlighting the inside of the coronary arteries. This helps the cardiologist to see all the blockages present in the arteries.

In the coronary artery bypass graft surgery - also known as CABG - the patient's chest is slit open to expose the heart to perform the surgery. The heart is stopped for the surgeon to work on it, and is connected to the heart-lung machine that provides circulation and oxygenates the blood.

One to seven bypass surgeries may be performed depending on the number and location of the blockages. Once the bypasses are completed, the heart is restored to normal, and is removed from the heart-lung machine. After the surgery, the patient in kept for approximately 2-3 days in the ICU.

Living with a heart disease can be challenging. However, there are ways that can help the patients improve the quality of their life.

Do follow the steps given below to live a happier, healthier and balanced lifestyle.

• Plan a simple diet, lessen the intake of saturated fats, and increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Limit consumption of baked products, fried foods, and foods with high cholesterol.

• Exercise daily at least for half an hour. This will help strengthen the heart muscle, and is a crucial part of recovery.
• Stop smoking, if you do.

• Take charge of your health - keep your blood cholesterol level, your weight, your blood pressure level, and sugar levels in check.
• Try to overcome your stress and anxiety levels. Learn to manage and cope with your emotions.

On a concluding note, early symptoms of coronary heart disease or other contributory factors of a heart attack should not be taken lightly as they can lead to a full-blown heart attack. People who have these symptoms are advised to call 911 immediately, and seek medical help.

Healthy lifestyle changes are highly recommended. This includes having a low cholesterol and well-balanced diet, regular exercising, and adopting to stress management techniques, to keep your heart healthy and happy. Last but not the least, abide by your doctor's advice on food, exercise, medication and stay healthy!

Disclaimer: Please be aware that this story is for informative purposes only. It is neither intended, nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.