A heart attack is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Knowing what to look for and how to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack can help you save your life or someone else’s. It is important to be aware of the signs and act quickly if you suspect that you or someone else has a heart attack.
Let’s learn more about these symptoms and where you can go for the treatment of heart-related diseases in Boca Raton, FL.
Common Symptoms of Heart Attack
The most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort that may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest. An actual heart attack often lasts more than 15 minutes and comes with excruciating symptoms. In milder heart attacks, the symptoms may go away and come back again. Other symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Lightheadedness
- Sweating
- Arm or jaw pain
- Fatigue
Not everyone experiences all these symptoms. People with a heart attack usually experience at least one symptom lasting more than a few minutes.
Uncommon Symptoms of Heart Attack
People with certain conditions often do not experience the typical chest pain and tightness when having a heart attack. The reason behind this is the ineffectiveness of the sensory nerves of the heart that tell the brain if something is wrong. This phenomenon is common in the elderly and the diabetic population. Elderly and diabetic people may have symptoms like:
- Heartburn
- Stomach pain
- Acidity
- Backache
Risk Factors for Heart Attack
It is also important to be aware of the risk factors associated with heart attacks. In clinical practice, patients are classified according to their symptoms and risk factors. For instance, a male with chest pain has a higher risk of having a heart attack than a female with chest pain. Some of the most prevalent risk factors include:
- High cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure levels
- Smoking cigarettes
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity/being overweight
- Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2)
- Unhealthy diet choices (high saturated fat intake)
- Family history of heart disease/heart attacks
- Elderly – 65 years or older
- Gender – Males have higher risks of having a heart attack than pre-menopausal females
If any of these apply to you, you need to consult with your doctor about how you can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Reducing the Risk of Heart Attack
In addition to recognizing potential warning signs and paying attention to risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, it is important to make healthy lifestyle changes such as:
- Eating healthier foods like fruits and vegetables
- Avoiding excessive amounts of sugar
- Limiting intake of processed foods
- Exercising regularly
- Getting adequate sleep
- Minimizing stress
- Taking your prescription medicine properly
If you experience any of the serious symptoms mentioned above for a prolonged period, especially if you have an associated risk factor, call 911!
Heart Diseases Treatment in Boca Raton, FL
The highly skilled cardiologists at Advanced Heart and Vascular Institute are highly experienced in heart surgery. Our doctors strive to give our patients the best outcomes and will guide you through your recovery period. When it comes to problems of the heart, we understand the implications and use our specialized knowledge and advanced techniques to fix the problem.
To consult with one of our cardiologists, call our office today at (561) 235-5621 or use our convenient online request form.
