A heart attack is a serious medical emergency causing severe damage to the heart muscle and potentially leading to death. There are several signs of a silent heart attack that you should never ignore.
Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, can damage the heart muscle and kill. A heart attack can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. Dr. C. Raghu, Clinical Director & Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad, says minor symptoms like nausea and sweating can make heart attacks hard to spot.
Hence, you should never ignore the following signs of a silent heart attack:
1) Breathlessness
A major sign of a heart attack is breathlessness. Even at rest or with minimal activity, you may have trouble breathing. Lack of oxygen to the heart causes lung fluid buildup and this symptom.
2) Chest Pain/ Discomfort
Chest pain is the most common heart attack symptom. This discomfort might range from a dull aching to a crushing chest anguish. Sometimes the chest feels tight or pressured like a huge weight is on it. Pain may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach. The chest ache may last many minutes.
- Palpitations
Heart palpitations are another heart attack warning. The heart may race, flutter, or pound, and you may feel lightheaded. Even at rest, palpitations might last seconds or minutes.
4) Dizziness
Heart attacks often cause dizziness. An abrupt reduction in blood pressure due to cardiac oxygen deprivation might cause it. You may feel dizzy or faint. Nausea, sweating, and shortness of breath can accompany dizziness.
5) Fatigue
Fatigue often precedes heart attacks, especially in women. Even after light exercise, you may feel exhausted. The symptom can appear quickly and without warning. If you’re weary, your heart may be struggling to pump blood, signaling a heart attack.
In addition to the aforementioned 5 signs, digestive problems like nausea, vomiting, and indigestion can indicate a heart attack, especially in women. No chest pain or discomfort is needed for these symptoms.
Conclusion
A myocardial infarction, or heart attack, can kill. Heart attack symptoms include chest discomfort, breathlessness, and palpitations.. Unusual symptoms like nausea and sweating can make heart attacks hard to spot.
Fatigue, especially in women, may suggest a heart that is struggling to pump blood. Mild discomfort to severe, crushing chest pain can extend to other parts of the body. Racing or hammering heart palpitations can indicate a heart attack. Dizziness from a quick drop in blood pressure owing to heart oxygen deprivation might also indicate a heart attack. Lack of oxygen to the heart and fluid buildup in the lungs can cause breathlessness, another warning indication.
