Several experts have mentioned 4 early signs of a heart attack. A schematic illustration of a heart attack in an elderly man. (Shutterstock)
[The Epoch Times, March 24, 2023](Reported by Epoch Times reporter Chen Juncun) Heart disease is a very common disease and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Many people don’t realize they have a heart problem until after they have a heart attack. In fact, experts say early signs of a heart attack can begin days to weeks before. If you can pay attention to these symptoms in daily life and deal with them in time, it may save precious lives.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States, according to the Huffington Post. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 697,000 people in this country will die from heart disease in 2020, about one in five deaths.
Abha Khandelwal, a clinical associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University, said the increase in deaths from heart disease during the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of understanding the risks of developing heart disease. and the importance of signs.
Several experts share some of the early signs of a heart attack:
(1) Chest pain or chest compression
Roger Blumenthal, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, said angina may be a A warning sign that the disease will flare up in the next few days.
Angina is intermittent chest pain caused by a buildup of platelets in the arteries. Constriction or spasm of the arteries on the outside of the heart can also cause this symptom.
Angina can also present in other ways that are not pain. If you experience chest discomfort of any kind, you should see your doctor.
(2) Neck, shoulder, or jaw pain
Angina can sometimes come in the form of neck or shoulder pain, especially in older people, Blumonso said. It could also be numbness in the jaw, Candeva said.
(3) Easy to gasp or feel uncomfortable after finishing something
When people feel more out of breath than usual after doing a simple task, such as installing a light or tidying the garden, it could also be a warning sign of a heart attack, Candeva said.
Some people notice a numbness in the arms or discomfort in the chest, she added.
(4) Stomach pain or other gastrointestinal problems
Stomach pain, nausea or physical fatigue are also possible warning signs of a heart attack, says Nikhil Sikand, a cardiologist and assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine.
But he stressed that this is not the case for everyone. “Some patients may have mild symptoms, and some may have no symptoms.”
As for how soon after these early signs do a heart attack occur? It varies from person to person, Candeva said. But when a heart attack is approaching, people have more symptoms. These symptoms may appear more frequently, last longer, or be more severe.
She urges people to seek medical attention if they notice any symptoms, even if you have no history of heart disease or have mild symptoms. If your symptoms come on quickly and are severe, make an emergency call for help.
Prevent heart disease in everyday life
People can prevent heart disease by taking simple actions in their daily lives. For example, go for a daily walk, eat the right foods, check your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, and watch out for early signs of a heart attack.
In addition, people should also understand what the risk factors for heart disease are, and improve their lifestyle and habits in order to reduce the impact of these factors.
Traditional heart disease risk factors include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, according to the American Heart Association.
And when it comes to self-prevention, people should also keep in touch with their doctors.
“Apart from a healthy diet and regular exercise, the most important thing anyone can do is to consult a health professional regularly to identify and manage underlying heart disease risk factors,” Sikander said.
Responsible editor: Jasmine
