Heart attack or myocardial infarction is related to the obstruction of an artery supplying the vital organ with oxygen that can cause necrosis (death) of the cardiac muscle tissue. If heart attack can occur in the absence of cardiovascular disorders, there are early signs to anticipate it as explained in Doctissimo.
Smoking, obesity, hypertension, many factors that can increase the risk of heart attack. To prevent it, it is essential to know the early warning signs of a heart attack.
What heart attack signs you have to know?
We often tend to believe that the precursor sign of a heart attack is chest pain. In 2003, the findings of the study of 515 women who underwent it, shed light on the symptoms of infarction. Some of them may seem trivial but they may presage the occurrence of this fatal event. Prior to this crisis, victims complained of unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance and anxiety. Nearly 80% of women reported having at least one symptom one month before their heart attack. Here are the nine warning signs of myocardial infarction:
1- Unusual tiredness for several days
2- Accelerated sleep disorders
3- Anxiety
4- Dizziness
5- Gas and bloating
6- Nausea or vomiting
7- Shortness of breath
8- Sweats
9- Pain in the upper back, shoulder or throat
10- Pain going to the neck and jaw up to the back and the left arm
11- Chest discomfort
If you have one or more of these symptoms, it is imperative to consult your doctor.
What are the causes
Cardiac arrest is different from heart attack. The latter is caused by a circulatory problem due to the blockage of a vessel supplying the heart with blood. Even if the heart attack can occur suddenly and unexplained, it can be the result of an unhealthy lifestyle. People with obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and may be at risk for myocardial infarction. Poor eating habits, stress, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol and tobacco consumption can all compromise cardiovascular health.
In addition, cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating while in a heart attack the heart continues to beat even if its blood supply is disrupted.
Prevention
To prevent a heart attack, it is essential to establish preventive habits to eliminate risk factors. It is important to regularly check the condition of your heart with a specialist. To reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, it is essential to:
- Exercise: Moving allows the body to stay in motion and stimulate its heart activity
- Avoid smoking: Quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease or having a heart attack
- Have a balanced diet: A diet high in fat, sugar or salt can be fertile ground for cardiovascular diseases. Focusing on vegetables, fruits and lean meats are good habits to keep you healthy on a daily basis.