12 Warning Signs Of Heart Attack You Should NOT Ignore!

Heart attack is clinically known as myocardial infarction, and it features an irreversible destruction of the heart muscle resulting from a prolonged reduction in oxygen supply, also known as ischemia. A heart attack is usually the final stage of acute coronary disease, which is a problem in the coronary arteries consisting of a progressive thickening of the artery walls due to a process called atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the most important cause of heart attack, and it is a complex process of inflammation, and immune reactions in the walls of the blood vessels that results in the formation of an atherosclerotic plaque made up of cholesterol, immune cells, and inflammatory mediators. This plaque reduces the available space in the lumen of the arteries and compromises the blood flow, causing an event called angina pectoris.

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As time goes by and the plaque becomes larger, it becomes more susceptible, and it is likely that it will rupture and cause a massive thrombosis that obliterates the coronary arteries and leads to myocardial infarction. The most important signs and symptoms these patients report are as follows:

Chest pain

The most common symptom in myocardial infarction is chest pain, which is sometimes rather mild and reported as discomfort. Others patients do not report any type of pain, especially those who have a high pain threshold or a nervous system alteration due to advanced diabetes mellitus and other health problems. However, the typical chest pain in myocardial infarction is intense and continuous for at least 30 minutes. It often radiates to other areas of the body, and it is described as an oppressive pain or pressure in the middle of the chest. Patients often feel indigestion, bloating, and other gastrointestinal symptoms associated with the intensity of the pain.

Pain in the left arm or shoulder

The most common irradiation of chest pain is to the left arm or shoulder. This sign is commonly recognized as one of the most important in myocardial infarction or heart attack, and it is caused by a connection of the sensory nerves of the heart and those found in the left portion of the upper limb. These nerves go through the same path to reach the brain, and intense pain is interpreted by the brain as if it was coming from all of this area. This is called referred pain, and it is one of the most common reasons why some people have an undiagnosed heart attack.

Neck, jaw or stomach pain

Pain in the left shoulder and arm are commonly recognized as a sign of heart attack, but it is not the same when we are talking about neck or jaw pain. This type of pain is more common in elderly patients, especially in senior women, but it may affect different patients regardless of their age and gender. Sometimes, pain symptoms are perceived as indigestion, stomach pain and gastrointestinal symptoms. Thus, if you have an underlying heart condition or advanced cardiovascular risk, the advice is to maintain a healthy routine of medical check-ups to prevent myocardial infarction and be on your guard to detect signs and symptoms of heart attack and ask your doctor without delay.

Rapid heartbeat

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In most cases, patients with a heart attack develop a rapid heartbeat that is often associated with fear and apprehension, but in other cases, it is a body reflex to increase blood flow in the heart tissue. A rapid heartbeat is also a cause of myocardial infarction, especially when it triggers arrhythmia, which may contribute to creating blood clots that will travel through the coronary arteries and precipitate a heart attack. This is why taking your heart rate is one of the things doctors will do if they suspect a heart disease, and they will even need an electrocardiogram to rule out arrhythmia and other complications associated with a rapid heartbeat.

High blood pressure

Another sign that is commonly seen with a heart attack is high blood pressure. Patients with poorly controlled hypertension are in a high risk of myocardial infarction because this increase in pressure in the blood flow ends up creating erosion to the atherosclerotic plaques and may precipitate a rupture. High blood pressure may be also a consequence of a heart attack, and it is common in patients who become anxious and nervous after their pain symptoms. If you suffer from high blood pressure, not controlling your readings is likely to precipitate something called a hypertensive crisis, which features very high readings that might trigger a myocardial infarction and become life-threatening.

Cyanosis

In most cases, patients with myocardial infarction have something called peripheral cyanosis. Their extremities become pale and start turning to a blueish colour. This is especially prevalent in patients with circulation problems, as in advanced diabetes mellitus, Raynaud’s syndrome, among others. In these cases, there’s a constriction of the blood vessels in the extremities to favour blood flow to the heart, brain, and other key organs in the body. Thus, you may feel a weak pulse in your extremities as well. All of these signs should be examined by your doctor, and they would need a series of lab tests and physical evaluations to diagnose the root cause.

Lightheadedness

In some cases, patients may feel dizzy and lightheaded, especially in elderly patients and if they have an underlying condition. In severe cases of lightheadedness, patients may also lose consciousness for a few seconds, which is a symptom called syncope. Lightheadedness is common in many different diseases, not necessarily related to the cardiovascular system, and it is also common in angina pectoris, which is why a physician should examine this symptom carefully to fully understand and reach the final diagnosis.

Anxiety

Anxiety can be both a cause or a consequence of a heart attack. As a cause of heart attack, anxiety and strong emotions are common triggers of high blood pressure, hypertensive crisis, and other precipitant factors of a heart attack. These would increase the strain in the coronary arteries and may lead to the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. In the majority of cases, patients with heart attack come to the emergency room with a generalized state of anxiety which may be caused by emotional triggers, their pain symptoms, or a combination of both. Stress is a very important cause of heart attack, and if you have a high risk of cardiovascular disease, stress-relieving strategies are essential to prevent heart attack and other complications.

Shortness of breath

Chest pain in heart attack is often described as oppressive as if there was something very heavy applying pressure to the centre of the chest. This type of pain is commonly associated with shortness of breath, a difficulty to breathe that may increase anxiety levels and make patients feel very nervous. Shortness of breath is common in respiratory infections, which may also feature chest pain. It is important to make this distinction, but if you feel there’s something wrong with you and suspect a heart attack, it will be better to look for urgent medical attention, especially if you’re a high-risk patient.

Profuse sweating and fever

During an episode of myocardial infarction, it is common to have profuse sweating because the sympathetic nervous system activates and it starts sending an adrenal discharge throughout the body. This is similar to what happens when we are afraid or nervous, and the reason why we start sweating in these situations. Similarly, heart attack triggers the same reactions and patients often come drenched in their own sweat or wake up in the middle of the night in soaked sheets.

Fever is also common in heart attack, and it is often related to the increase of enzymes in the blood, especially the enzyme creatine kinase. This fever lasts no more than 48 hours, and it is always around 102°F.

Prodromal fatigue

The prodromal stage of a disease is an early stage with unspecific signs and symptoms as the disease slowly develops. Myocardial infarction does not usually develop slowly. It is rather abrupt and without notice. However, some patients may have a prodromal stage characterized by fatigue and general malaise for a few days. They may also feel some chest discomfort, especially if they suffer from angina pectoris.

Altered mental status

Elderly patients are an especially susceptible population when it comes to myocardial infarction. Some of them have a silent myocardial infarction and often go unrecognized. However, 20% of patients older than 85 years old would have an altered mental status as a result of heart attack consisting of severe lethargy, confusion, and other manifestations of the central nervous system. These patients have a poor prognosis and higher mortality rates, which is why it is important to detect cognitive changes in the elderly and immediately look for medical assistance to attend their case.

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A heart attack is an absolute emergency, and it causes irreversible damage to the heart tissue. Therefore, if you have a suspicion about your symptoms, do not delay your diagnosis and go straight to your doctor. Anxiety and nervousness do not help if you have a heart attack, so keep your cool as much as possible and look for urgent medical attention.