At the onset of some symptoms, such as a small fever, rib pain, nausea or vomiting, we generally tend to make a diagnosis of our condition ourselves, and sometimes even resort to self- self-medication. What many people are unaware of is that these seemingly trivial gestures can endanger their health and even their lives, as was the case with Sue Palmer, who was close to the heart attack. Here is his story.
The story of Sue Palmer
Sue Palmer, a 46-year-old American, woke up in the middle of the night feeling hurt, but she did not know why. She suddenly suffered from severe nausea and began to vomit repeatedly. Believing she was prone to food poisoning, she decided to stay longer, as her condition improves. However, her husband had insisted on taking her to see a doctor. Fortunately for her, this little attention from her spouse saved her life!
When she arrived at the emergency room, Sue was examined and everything seemed normal, except that the doctors realized shortly after that she had to be operated on in an emergency. Upon hearing this, the young woman was surprised and even began to laugh, as she said she felt "normal". However, what she did not know was that at the time of her arrival at the hospital, her coronary artery was already 100% blocked and her central artery 70%. So, if she had gone back to her bed that night, she would have died.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of women under the age of 60 who have been prone to myocardial infarction has increased, from 11.8% in 1995 to 25.5% in 2010. This increase is due to an increase in smoking rates and obesity among them.
So what are the symptoms to consider in recognizing an impending heart attack?
Generally, one recognizes a heart attack to pain that begins in the chest and spreads to reach the back, the arm the neck or the jaw. But in some cases, the symptoms it can cause are totally different, especially in women.
So here are the 5 signs to never neglect:
Nausea and vomiting:
These common digestive disorders, should not be taken lightly, especially as part of a balanced diet. In addition, if your nausea and vomiting are resistant to antacid treatment or if they are accompanied by cold sweat or abdominal pain, seek immediate help as they may reveal an imminent heart attack.
Unusual Fatigue:
When a blood clot forms and blocks the blood flow to the heart, the heart can no longer deliver enough oxygenated blood to other body muscles, weakening them and causing a widespread and persistent fatigue. Thus, if a sufficient rest and a deep sleep do not overcome this feeling of fatigue, it will be necessary to immediately seek the opinion of a doctor.
Shortness of breath:
Among the organs that most need oxygen, there are the lungs. When blood flow to their level is reduced because of disturbed blood circulation, the lungs are no longer able to provide normal breathing, and the lungs become short and jerky. For example, if the person is constantly breathless and has no respiratory illnesses and has not given a particular effort, they should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Excessive sweating:
Excessive sweating is usually due to stress or hormonal disorders. But in some cases, it may be due to a heart disorder. Unfortunately, women generally neglect this symptom, taking it as mere hot flashes and putting it on the account of their hormones and their menstrual cycle.
Pale skin :
Because of the impaired blood circulation, the blood vessels supplying the skin do not receive enough oxygenated blood, which makes it paler than usual. Thus, if this pallor persists or is accompanied by one of the above symptoms, it is strongly recommended to consult urgently