Are Heart Attack Symptoms And Triggers The Same For Everyone?
Are Heart Attack Symptoms And Triggers The Same For Everyone?
Introduction
Variations in symptoms and triggers of heart attacks are a fact and should not be overlooked. There is the possibility where you may end up not recognizing a real symptom due to wrong assumptions. These variations extend across gender, age, and health conditions. However, there are certain common “tell-tale” heart attack symptoms and triggers that can help identify and take suitable action. Let’s decode the symptoms and the triggers that can help you make the right decision for timely intervention.
What experiences do survivors have of heart attack symptoms and triggers?
Here are first hand accounts of survivors of heart attacks. Learn of the different symptoms and experiences recounted by survivors.
- A man aged 60, used to experience some kind of stabbing pain in the back during certain actions like climbing up or down stairs. He also experienced indigestion, and a squeezing sensation on his heart. These were symptoms that he ignored, which were building up within him. One night, he felt uneasy before dinner, he felt feverish, even though his body temperature was normal. He then experienced indigestion. Finally, when he experienced a severe crushing sensation in his heart, he realized he was having a heart attack. He was rushed to hospital, underwent an open heart surgery, survived, and lived to tell his story.
- A lady aged 62 experienced a full feeling in her stomach despite not having overeaten. She then experienced a tightness in her chest and was short of breath. The symptoms seemed to have reduced, and she slept over it. However, the symptoms increased later, and she was rushed to a hospital. She was diagnosed with a blockage in her artery, and after treatment is now leading a near-normal life.
There are multiple examples of different types of heart attack symptoms and triggers that clearly show the importance of awareness. Here is a look at some of the common symptoms.
- Pain or discomfort in the chest – This could be some kind of squeezing sensation, pressure or pain right in the middle of the chest. This usually lasts for a few minutes, and can sometimes reduce to return later.
- Discomfort in the upper part of the body – If you have any abnormal pain or discomfort in your arms, in the back, your neck or jaw, you need to look for other symptoms or triggers.
- Difficulty breathing – This may occur with or without any discomfort in the chest and during physical activity or while resting.
- Breaking into a cold sweat – If you are experiencing any abnormal cold sweat, beware, it could also indicate heart attack symptoms and triggers, if other factors contribute to a heart attack.
- Feelings of nausea and possible vomiting – There could be a sudden feeling of nausea with or without vomiting.
- A lightheaded or dizzy feeling – Some people are known to feel faint or experience a passing out sensation, and this is also a possible symptom of a heart attack.
- Overall tiredness – Women may experience extended periods of fatigue.
Is the information true about the pressure point in thumb that causes heart attack?
No, this is a misconception and is to be ignored totally. People who believe these unscientific or unproven claims are likely to end up with problems. Certain alternative therapies make wild claims that are not backed or supported by evidence. Any ignorance about the real heart attack symptoms and triggers and effective treatment can cost lives. In certain alternative medicine practice, pressure points are used to relieve pain and to help overcome some discomfort.
However, this can in no way offer relief or be considered as treatment in the event of heart attack. The reasons for a heart attack are different from that of usual pain. The cause of a heart attack are also totally different. It is just not possible for pressure points to help offer relief.
What are the common sudden heart attack causes?
Some of the conditions identified as reasons for sudden heart attack include the following. This will help you understand heart attack symptoms and triggers better.
- Coronary artery disease – When cholesterol and other fatty deposits clog the arteries, blood flow to the heart is reduced, and this can cause a sudden heart attack.
- Cardiomyopathy – This refers to a condition when the heart is enlarged, as a result of the walls in the heart stretching. In such conditions, the muscles in the heart become bigger, and this could cause a sudden heart attack.
- Heart valve disease – When the heart valves narrow, it can result in a thickening of the heart muscle. Similarly, if the heart valves leak and cause the chambers to enlarge, it could affect the rhythm. These conditions can cause a sudden heart attack.
- Congenital heart problems – Children born with a heart problem are likely to get a sudden heart attack during adolescence. This could also occur in adults who have undergone surgical procedures for congenital heart problems.
- Long QT syndrome – This belongs to the category of heart signaling problems. This causes the heart to beat abnormally. When the heart beat rhythm does not return to normal, this can cause a sudden heart attack.
What you can do to identify and prevent or reduce the effects of heart attacks?
An awareness of the different heart attack symptoms and triggers is necessary, Especially, the different variations in symptoms and triggers need to be known. More importantly, it would be a good idea to undergo the right tests that help to identify a person’s genetic predisposition to heart attacks. There are multiple reasons or causes for a heart attack. One of the reasons or causes is a person’s genetic possibility of getting a heart attack.
With simple genetic testing, you can now learn if you are likely to get a heart attack later in life, due to any genetic reasons. This will considerably help you reduce the risk of getting a heart attack. This will also help you modify your lifestyle, and take suitable pre-emptive treatment. This will increase your chances of survival and also help you live healthier. Tamilnadu now has advanced genetic testing facilities, that offer clients a proven and simple option for a detailed analysis.
Medically Reviewed by
Dr.Rajasekar Cardiologist
Dr. Rajasekar is a cardiologist in Chennai, with extensive experience in the field. He completed his MBBS from Madurai Kamaraj University, followed by an MD in General Medicine and a DM in Cardiology from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (TNMGRMU).
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Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) from the University of Delhi Experience : Dr. Srinivasan is an experienced pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Delhi and over 12 years in the field. She has worked extensively in clinical and community pharmacy settings, focusing on patient care, medication management, and drug safety. Dr. Srinivasan also contributes to health and wellness publications and serves as a consultant for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations. Her expertise spans clinical practice, pharmaceutical writing, and regulatory affairs.