A heart attack, also known as Myocardial Infarction, occurs when a heart muscle is damaged as a result of less or no blood flow to a part of the heart. This causes discomfort in the chest. Often the discomfort and pain occurs in the left side of the chest which later, in many cases, travel to shoulder, arm, back, neck, and sometimes even the jaw.
Although the causes and symptoms of a heart disease may vary from person to person, here are some common symptoms associated with myocardial infarction:
1. Discomfort in Chest
Discomfort in chest is the most common symptom of a heart attack. However, this particular symptom is usually not enough to tell if a person is having a heart attack or not because a person can feel discomfort in chest during many other diseases. Which is why, it is advised not to neglect this symptom as it could be the first sign that a person’s heart may be in danger. The sufferer may get the sensation of pressure and tightness in the chest. The discomfort can be mild or severe; it varies from person to person.
2. Spreading of the Pain
From the chest, the discomfort or pain may travel to other parts of the body. Mostly staying in the upper part of the body, the pain may travel from chest to one or both arms, shoulders, back, neck, and even the jaw. The nature of the pain could be either sharp or mild.
3. Dizziness or Lightheadedness
Although there could be many reasons of getting dizzy or lightheaded, but if these symptoms are accompanied with shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest, it could be a myocardial infarction. It is advised to consult a doctor immediately in such a situation.
4. Snoring
A person snores when the nose and/or throat do not allow the air to move freely and the tissues between the throat and nose vibrate. Although some level of snoring is normal, but loud snoring which almost sounds like the person is choking or gasping for air could be an early sign of a myocardial infarction.
5. Chronic Cough
Although coughing is not a sign of a heart attack in most cases, if you are, however, diabetic or have a family history of heart diseases, special attention needs to be paid to the cough. If the cough is chronic (more than 2 weeks) and produces pink or white mucus, heart failure could be a reason. It is the result of blood leaking back into the lungs because the heart cannot keep up with the requirement of the blood.
If you or someone you know might have these symptoms, it is advisable to consult a general physician or a heart specialist immediately.
Moreover, although there is no definite cause for a heart attack, a person can prevent a heart attack naturally by following a healthy lifestyle.
- Work-Out: A light jogging and exercising session in the morning just to maintain a good health can exponentially reduce the risk of a heart disease.
- No Smoking: If someone smokes more than 5 cigarettes a day, the risk of developing heart diseases is higher in him/her then an average person. Quitting smoking can be a preventive measure.
- Keep the Blood Sugar Level in Tab: Excess of sugar in blood can damage arteries. Furthermore, a diabetic person carries greater risk of a heart attack than a non-diabetic person.
- Mind Blood Pressure: High blood pressure greatly increases the risk of heart disease. Regular exercise, healthy diet, and stress management can help keeping the blood pressure level in control.
Although coughing is not a sign of a heart attack in most cases, if you are, however, diabetic or have a family history of heart diseases, special attention needs to be paid to the cough. If the cough is chronic (more than 2 weeks) and produces pink or white mucus, heart failure could be a reason. It is the result of blood leaking back into the lungs because the heart cannot keep up with the requirement of the blood.
If you or someone you know might have these symptoms, it is advisable to consult a general physician or a heart specialist immediately.
