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Mens Signs Of Heart Attack

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Learn About Heart Attacks

How heart attack symptoms differ in men and women
    • What is a heart attack?
    • How will I recover from my heart attack?
    • What are the warning signs of heart attack?
    • What is dual antiplatelet therapy ?

Early Symptoms Don’t Really Sound Like The Hollywood Heart Attack Experience Is That Typical

There are two main ways that people present with heart attacks, Dr. Xu says:

  • Sudden A person may or may not have any symptoms previously, but all at once a plaque deposit ruptures, triggering a chain of events and a sudden heart attack.
  • Gradual The other presentation happens slowly as coronary disease progresses. In this situation, an artery is getting narrower over time. When the artery is narrowed down to more than 70 percent, a person will start to have warning symptoms ahead of time, especially with physical exertion.

Testing: What To Expect

The hours following a heart attack can be scary and confusing. Your medical team may be incredibly busy and focused, and hard-pressed to explain everything thats happening.

You and your caregivers are sure to have questions. You may wonder about the tests and procedures that are being performed.

In the section below, youll find descriptions of the kinds of diagnostic procedures you may encounter as your doctors strive to identify the underlying causes of your heart attack.

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Common Signs Of Heart Attack And Stroke

A heart attack occurs when heart disease has reached the point where blood stops flowing to the muscle of the heart. The most common sign of heart attack in men is chest discomfort that includes squeezing, pressure, or pain. It used to be thought that only chest pain was a sign of heart attack, but its possible to have discomfort that doesnt register as painful. This discomfort may also be present in your arms, back, neck, abdomen, or jaw.

During a heart attack, you may have:

  • shortness of breath
  • profuse sweating for no apparent reason
  • lightheadedness

Symptoms of a stroke include numbness or weakness that only happens on one side of your body. The numbness may occur in your face, arms, or legs. Other symptoms of stroke include:

  • confusion, difficulty speaking, or trouble comprehending others
  • imbalance or loss of coordination
  • changes in vision
  • intense headache

Many of these changes occur suddenly and without warning. Call 911 immediately if you experience these symptoms.

Cardinal Signs And Symptoms

Stroke and heart attack symptoms can differ in men and women ...

Cardinal signs and symptoms are specific even to the point of being pathognomonic. A cardinal sign or cardinal symptom can also refer to the major sign or symptom of a disease. Abnormal reflexes can indicate problems with the nervous system. Signs and symptoms are also applied to physiological states outside the context of disease, as for example when referring to the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, or the symptoms of dehydration. Sometimes a disease may be present without showing any signs or symptoms when it is known as being asymptomatic. The disorder may be discovered through tests including scans. An infection may be asymptomatic which may still be transmissible.

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Signs Of A Heart Attack In Men

Did you know there are more signs of a heart attack than just chest pain? In fact, some heart attacks can happen without chest pain. Its important to know all the warning signs of a possible heart attack so you can get the proper treatment right away. If a heart attack happens and goes untreated, it damages your heart. Signs of a heart attack that are most common in men include:3

  • Chest pain, discomfort or pressure
  • Pain in other parts of your body, like stomach, one arm, back, neck, jaw or teeth
  • Shortness of breath
  • Trouble walking or loss of balance and coordination

Pressure In The Center Of The Chest

Though most people associate heart disease with pain on the left side of the chestwhere the heart is locatedit is actually more common for a person experiencing a heart attack to feel pressure or pain in the center.

“Heart attacks most often cause discomfort in the center of the chest, along with a sensation of unremitting squeezing, fullness, or tightness,” cardiologist Curtis Rimmerman, MD, explained to the Cleveland Clinic. And for more red flags regarding your health, check out 30 Warning Signs Your Heart Is Trying to Send You.

Also Check: How To Cause A Heart Attack Naturally

Should I Still Call 999 Or Go To Hospital If I’m Worried About My Health

Whether or not you have coronavirus symptoms, it’s essential to dial 999 if you have symptoms that could be a heart attack, or if your heart symptoms get worse.

We are hearing that fewer people are being seen in hospital with heart attacks in recent weeks, which suggests that people are not seeking help when they should do. If you have any of the symptoms described above, you should call 999.

Don’t delay because you think hospitals are too busy – the NHS still has systems in place to treat people for heart attacks. If you delay, you are more likely to suffer serious heart damage and more likely to need intensive care and to spend longer in hospital.

Signs Of Heart Trouble: Youre Bloated

The signs of a heart attack for men

Bloating is commonparticularly after eating a super salty mealbut it can also be caused by congestive heart failure. This is because the heart is too weak to properly pump blood through the body, which causes fluids to build up throughout the body.

Generally, youll notice swelling in the legs feet, ankles, legs or stomach, according to the American Heart Association. You may even gain weight unexpectedly or notice that your shoes are too tight. If youre suddenly bloated , it may be time to visit the doctor.

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Take The Ehac Oath With Us

We encourage you to start taking care of your heart health today. We can kick this commitment off by taking the EHAC oath together.

I understand that heart attacks have beginnings and on occasion, signs of an impending heart attack may include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, shoulder and/or arm pain and weakness. These may occur hours or weeks before the actual heart attack. I solemnly swear that if happens to me or anyone I know I will call 9-1-1 or activate Emergency Medical Services.

What Is A Heart Attack

Heart attack signs and symptoms in men and women: Chest pain or discomfort Shortness of breath Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm, or shoulder Feeling nauseous, light-headed, or unusually tired.

A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, happens when a part of the heart muscle doesnt get enough blood.

The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle.

Coronary artery disease is the main cause of heart attack. A less common cause is a severe spasm, or sudden contraction, of a coronary artery that can stop blood flow to the heart muscle.

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How To Get Checked Out

Men may not be aware they had an SMI until weeks or even months later when they see their doctor for a regular visit, or because of persistent symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, or heartburn.

SMI is usually detected from an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram, which can highlight heart muscle damage. Another method is a blood test for the molecular footprints of troponin T, a protein released by injured heart cells. That test is often used in emergency departments for patients with heart attack symptoms.

Once an SMI is diagnosed, your doctor can identify your main risk factors and help design a treatment strategy, including changing your diet, exercising regularly, and taking a statin as well as other medication to help prevent a second heart attack .

“If you do notice any symptoms of a SMI, do not brush them aside, even if you do not think they are serious,” says Dr. Plutzky. “Playing it safe is always a better move than risking the potential harmful downside.”

Chest Tightness As Well As Pains Elsewhere In The Body Are Among The Most Common Heart Attack Symptoms In Men

HEART ATTACK WARNING SIGNS

Heart attack symptoms in men vary, from cold sweats to chest pain to lightheadedness.

Up until around age 55, men are much more likely than women to experience a heart attack. The gap gets smaller with advancing age, but men are still at a higher risk than women of suffering a heart attack. For that reason alone, its important that you recognize the common heart attack symptoms in men.

Below, we look at five heart attack symptoms in men:

  • Aches and pains in the upper body, including both arms
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cold sweats and dizziness
  • Anxiety accompanied by a racing pulse.

These heart problems in men require treatment see the section below titled What to Do Once You Notice Heart Attack Symptoms.

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Is A Cardiac Arrest The Same Thing As A Heart Attack

A cardiac arrest and a heart attack are both medical emergencies. However, they are not the same thing, and sometimes a heart attack can progress into a cardiac arrest.

During a cardiac arrest, the electrical system that controls your heart rate and rhythm stops working, and the heart stops beating.

When someone has a cardiac arrest, they experience different symptoms and receive different treatments to someone who has a heart attack.

Someone having a cardiac arrest will collapse and have no pulse. They may not breathe properly, or maybe not at all, and they will lose consciousness.

If someone has a cardiac arrest, they need help immediately. Call 000 for an ambulance. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, begin chest compressions , or use a device called a defibrillator, if available. Once the person gets to hospital, a medical team will treat them.

What Are The Risk Factors For Heart Attack

Several health conditions, your lifestyle, and your age and family history can increase your risk for heart disease and heart attack. These are called risk factors. About half of all Americans have at least one of the three key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking.2

Some risk factors cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control.

Learn more about risk factors for heart disease and heart attack.

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How Do You Know If You Have High

According to Dr. Khurana, some more obvious signs of high-functioning anxiety include feeling as though you can’t stop worrying internally, constantly imagining the worst outcome, constantly being in a state of dread, experiencing panic attacks regularly , and seeming like you have superpowers in terms of getting everything done.

Internally, your mind and anxiety do not give you a moment’s peace there is always something to worry about, she says. When you leave work for the day, often go home and are exhausted, and despite being tired, cannot sleep because are still worrying.

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Preventing Heart Disease In Women And Men

Heart Attack Warning Signs

Women often focus on looking after partners, children or ageing parents, but it’s important for women also to prioritise their own health.

In Australia, 9 in every 10 women have one risk factor for heart disease, and half of all women have 2 or 3 risk factors. The risk factors for heart disease in both in women and men include high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Women can also have the added risk factors of pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes , which may increase the chances of developing heart disease later in life.

Whether you’re a woman or a man, you will reduce your risk of developing heart disease if you:

  • know the risk factors for heart disease
  • talk to your doctor about ‘cardiovascular screening’ based on your family history and risk factors

Also Check: How To Know If I’m Having A Heart Attack

Early Heart Attack Symptoms

While most heart attacks are sudden and unmistakable, some might come on more gradually, Dr. Abdallah says. Some of the common early warning signs include:

  • Pressure or tightnessin the chest .
  • Pain in the arm,jaw, neck or back.
  • Unusual fatigue.

Anybody young or old, male or female can experience these subtle signs, though its more common in women.

Make Preventing Another Heart Attack Your First Priority Here Are Five Things You Can Do:

Take your medications as prescribed. Certain medicines can greatly lower your risk of another cardiac event. Thats why its important for you to understand your medicines and take them correctly. Learn about managing your medications.

Attend your follow-up appointments. Attending your follow-up appointments will help your doctors keep track of your condition and recovery. You can make the most of your time with your doctor by preparing for your appointment.

Participate in cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to help you recover after a heart attack. You should have received a referral to cardiac rehab when you were discharged from the hospital if you didnt, ask your doctor about it. Learn more about cardiac rehab.

Get support. Its normal to feel scared, overwhelmed or confused after a heart attack. Getting support from loved ones or from people who have also experienced a heart attack can help you cope. Connect with other heart attack survivors and caregivers through our Support Network.

Manage your risk factors. After a heart attack, its important to manage risk factors by taking medications, quitting smoking, eating healthy food and getting active. Find out more about managing your risk factors.

Also Check: What Is A Silent Heart Attack

Symptoms Vary Between Men And Women

As with men, womens most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Symptoms Of A Heart Attack

Warning Signs of Heart Attacks In Men

Symptoms of a heart attack can include:

  • chest pain a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest
  • pain in other parts of the body it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms , jaw, neck, back and tummy
  • feeling lightheaded or dizzy
  • feeling sick or being sick
  • an overwhelming feeling of anxiety
  • coughing or wheezing

The chest pain is often severe, but some people may only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion.

While the most common symptom in both men and women is chest pain, women are more likely to have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling or being sick and back or jaw pain.

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What If Your Doctor Assures You It’s Just Stress Or Fatigue

If a young, healthy patient doesnt have other risk factors, the likelihood of having significant coronary artery disease is low. It may not be appropriate to jump into testing. But the important thing is to always keep coronary risks in mind. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms that dont go away or get worse should go back to a doctor for further evaluation.

Sign Of Potential Heart Attack: You Feel Sick To Your Stomach

Sometimes nausea, indigestion, or a burping feeling that wont go away is just a sign of a stomach bug. But it can also signal a problem with your heart.

The nervous system sometimes confuses signals coming from various parts of the body, says Park. The nerves in your gastrointestinal tract are closely intertwined with the nerves from the heart. As a result, a problem that could be brewing in your heart can sometimes translate as stomach discomfort, he explains.

Theres a way to tell a stomach bug from something more serious, though. Usually nausea caused by an impending heart attack will get worse with physical exertion and ease up when you rest.

Also Check: What To Do If You Think Your Having A Heart Attack

Monday 25 October 2021

Did you know that common emergency symptoms can differ for men and women? Often chest pain is thought to be the most common symptom for a heart attack and it is common in men. However, only about half of all women who have a heart attack actually report having chest pain.

Early treatment is critical for both heart attacks and strokes, two of Australias biggest killers. Knowing the common emergency symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention could save your life or save your loved one.

Preventing A Heart Attack

Heart Attack Symptoms

Some of the risk factors associated with heart attacks are not reversible, such as sex and genetic risk of heart disease.

However, a person can lower their risk of a heart attack by focusing on lifestyle changes, such as:

  • Reducing or limiting alcohol intake: Low-to-moderate intake of may have some benefits for heart health. However, excessive drinking can damage the heart.
  • Regularly exercising: Regular reduces blood pressure and the risk of death from a heart attack.
  • Adopting a Mediterranean diet: that people who consume Mediterranean diets may have better heart health.
  • Stopping smoking: The note that the risk of heart problems decrease soon after people quit smoking. This risk continues to decline over time.

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