Myocardial infarction or heart attack is the obstruction of the coronary artery that partially destroys the heart muscle. It should be known that the infarction is an emergency situation and requires an imminent intervention under pain of death. In this context, the prevention of infarction is even more important because when it occurs, the victim has only a few minutes to be rescued. You must be extremely alert if you have these 6 warning signs of a heart attack.
In France, more than 46,000 people suffer from a heart attack each year. Unfortunately, the survival rate of a cardiac arrest would not exceed 10%. The average age of people with cardiac arrest is 68 and 63% of these are experienced by men. A low survival rate and older victims, who could live alone in this incident whose only outcome is immediate emergency response.
Moreover, as a cardiologist, the warning signs of an infarction usually appear during the 4 weeks preceding the accident, a crucial piece of information to act preventively and avoid irreversible consequences.
Discover the 6 warning signs of a heart attack:
1. Unexplained fatigue
When the heart deteriorates little by little, the blood flow is negatively impacted. Oxygen has trouble getting to the muscles, so it causes fatigue, very little movement and difficulty breathing. Namely, this sign is less visible for women. According to the American Heart Association, the latter would associate more fatigue with flu symptoms, thus omitting the signs of infarction.
2. Palpitations
Palpitations evoke two possibilities. Either the beating of the heart accelerates too fast, or the opposite, the heart does not beat fast enough. Indeed, when they are irregular, it could announce a heart attack, especially if they are accompanied by dizziness and pain in the chest.
3. Dizziness
The cause of dizziness or nausea should always be identified. The latter being important precursors if they are established over time. According to one study, nausea would be a lesser known symptom than others. Thus, when chest pain (which is more recognized) is absent, many patients are slow to consult, unaware of the severity of their symptoms.
4. Excessive perspiration
It is not uncommon for one of the warning symptoms of cardiac arrest to be sweating. Including cold sweats, accompanied by nausea and moist skin. This is due to the blood flow that is difficult to circulate fluidly due to clogged arteries.
5.Breathlessness
If shortness of breath can be "normal" for many, be aware that when it is manifested as a result of minimal effort or while you lie, it may express a malfunction of the heart that impedes oxygen delivery in the body. Namely, the more the heart muscle runs out of steam, the more difficult the breathing becomes.
6. Chest pains
This is one of the most alarming symptoms. If you feel pain or pinching in the chest, left arm or back, you should immediately consult to find out the source of this pain. It could mean that oxygen is struggling to reach the heart.
It should be noted, however, that many symptoms go unnoticed. It is therefore strongly advised to carry out regular examinations to ensure good heart health.
Risk factors and prevention
There are many factors that can encourage a heart attack, smoking of course, but also obesity, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and a stressful life. There are no secrets, to avoid a heart attack you must:
- Physical activity to maintain your heart
- Lose weight if you suffer from obesity
- Eat healthy and balanced, avoiding foods too high in fat
- Stop smoking
- Relativiser to problems and avoid stress
Emergency action in the face of cardiac arrest
As you have already read above, the intervention during a cardiac arrest must be done as quickly as possible. There are first aid measures, essential in emergency situations. Advice from Dr. Gerald Kierzek, Emergency physician:
- You must first recognize cardiac arrest. Generally the victim is unconscious and no longer breathing. We must feel his pulse and deduce if it is a case of cardiac arrest or not.
- Immediately call for help, they must be notified as soon as possible so that they act as soon as possible. In France, you can call 15, 18 or 112.
- It will immediately begin a heart massage. It is therefore necessary to press hard enough and regularly on the chest of the victim while awaiting the arrival of help.
- A rescuer will usually stay on the phone with you to accompany you. If there is a defibrillator at hand, notify the rescuer who will guide you in using this device.