Warning signs for a heart attack?

10/23/2013

By Michael J. Butler, M.D.
Siloam Springs Cardiology

One thing a heart attack does not take into consideration is your age or your fitness level. A heart attack can happen to anyone. While age and chronic health conditions can become risk factors, knowledge about your heart health – warning signs, triggers and causes – is your best defense.

Common warning signs

Heart attack warning signs usually begin slowly with mild pain and discomfort. The following are considered warning signs:

• Chest discomfort – severe pressure, squeezing, fullness, pain/or discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, pain that increases in intensity, pain that is not relieved by taking nitroglycerin
• Pain – in one or both arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach
• Shortness of breath – with or without chest discomfort
• Cold sweat, heavy perspiration, clammy skin or paleness
• A weak feeling, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting
• Pounding heart or a feeling of impending doom.

Men and women often experience different heart attack symptoms. Women’s symptoms are more likely to be fatigue, indigestion and sleep disruptions. Many women do not experience chest pain before or during a heart attack.

Triggers

Triggers are different from heart attack symptoms. A symptom is a physical condition or an indication of a heart attack. A trigger is a situation that may make a heart attack more likely. Common triggers include:

• Unusually heavy exercise or heavy physical exertion – While regular exercise can protect your heart, an unusual bout of heavy exercise can cause a heart attack for those that are not accustomed to that level of activity.
• Stress, anger or grief
• Overeating
• Lack of sleep or waking from sleep
• Infections such as the flu and pneumonia
• Drug abuse

Causes

A person’s chances of having a heart attack increase if they:

• Have high blood pressure or cholesterol
• Smoke
• Are of increased age
• Are physically inactive, have an unhealthy diet, have diabetes or are obese
• Have had a previous heart attack or have a family history of stroke

Hypertension and silent heart attacks

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a leader in causing stroke and coronary artery disease. Because many are unaware they have it, it’s called the "silent killer". Usually, high blood pressure has no signs or symptoms and accounts for 40-60 percent of all heart attacks.

With high blood pressure, the heart must pump harder to circulate the blood since arteries may have an increased resistance against blood flow. Having your blood pressure checked regularly by a health care provider is one way to find out if you are at risk for hypertension.

When a heart attack occurs and a person does not know, has no pain or has no prior warning, it is called a silent heart attack. Those with prior heart attacks or those with diabetes are especially at risk for silent heart attacks.

Risk factors include: smoking, diabetes, stress and family history. Often, those who had silent heart attacks experienced a symptom they did not think was heart related and had other risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Immediate action is key

It’s important to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack and to respond immediately by calling 911. The chances of surviving a heart attack are increased if the patient receives emergency treatment as soon as possible.

Michael J. Butler, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.S.E., F.A.C.P., is a non-interventional cardiologist at Siloam Springs Cardiology. He is board certified in cardiology, nuclear cardiography, echocardiography and internal medicine. To contact Dr. Butler, call (479) 215-3060.

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About Northwest Health

Northwest Health is a 73 licensed bed facility with 42 private patient rooms. It is accredited by the State of Arkansas Department of Health Services and The Joint Commission. Some services include inpatient and outpatient surgery, emergency medicine, medical, surgical and intensive care units, obstetrics, outpatient diagnostic services and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. With more than 30 physicians on the medical staff, Northwest Health provides compassionate, customer-focused care. The new facility, which opened April 2012, is located at 603 N. Progress Ave. in Siloam Springs, Ark. For more information, visit SSRH.net.

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