9 Warning Signs Your Body Will Give Before Heart Attack

Your heart is one of the most important organs in your body. It keeps pumping blood throughout your body to give oxygen and nutrients to all your cells. Without a healthy beating heart, you cannot survive. Sometimes, people can have a heart attack without any warning signs. But for many people, there are warning signals that their body gives before a heart attack happens.....Read Full Article>>

Paying attention to these signs can save your life. If you notice any of these 9 warning signals, you should not ignore them. See a doctor right away to get checked out. Getting prompt medical care can stop a heart attack or limit the damage if one does occur. Here are the 9 potential warning signs of an impending heart attack that you need to watch out for:

Chest Discomfort One of the most common heart attack signs is angina or chest pain. This discomfort or unpleasant feeling in the chest can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. The feeling may come and go. Some people describe it as feeling like an elephant is sitting on their chest.

Shortness of Breath When plaque builds up in the arteries or if the heart cannot pump effectively, you may experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. This can happen with or without chest discomfort. Even simple activities like walking short distances may leave you winded and gasping for air.

Pain in Other Areas Many people experience pain in areas other than the chest during a heart attack. This may include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. The pain or discomfort may move around from one area to another.

Cold Sweat Breaking out in a cold, clammy sweat for no apparent reason can be a warning sign of a heart attack, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like chest pain, nausea or lightheadedness. The skin may become pale or clammy.

Nausea or Vomiting Feelings of nausea (sickness in the stomach) or vomiting can sometimes go along with a heart attack. This may start even before any heart attack chest pain is felt. Don’t write it off as simply a stomach bug.

Lightheadedness or Dizziness If you suddenly feel lightheaded, dizzy or faint for no clear reason, it could be due to a lack of blood flow to the brain from heart problems. Check for any other heart attack warning signs.

Fatigue Many heart attack victims describe feeling extremely fatigued or tired days or even weeks before the attack. If you experience unexplained, excessive tiredness that doesn’t go away with rest, it could be your body’s way of warning you that your heart isn’t working properly.

Anxiety It’s not uncommon to have feelings of anxiety, nervousness or uneasiness before experiencing a heart attack, sometimes days or weeks in advance. Women in particular may experience this symptom more than men along with shortness of breath, nausea and abdominal discomfort.

Back Pain Pain or discomfort in the upper back or even lower back can sometimes be a sign of an impending heart attack, especially when coupled with other warning signs. The pain may move around to the chest area or radiate from the chest to the back.

Don’t Delay – Get Help Quickly If you experience any of these 9 potential heart attack warning signs, take them seriously and don’t wait to see if they go away. Call emergency services or have someone drive you to the hospital immediately. Quick action and prompt treatment can be the difference between life and death.

Even if you aren’t sure it’s a heart attack, it’s better to get checked out right away. Many heart attack victims delay treatment because they hope the symptoms will go away or think it’s something minor. By the time they realize it’s actually a heart attack, precious treatment time has been lost.

When it comes to heart attacks, every minute matters. Getting treatment within the first hour can help prevent or limit damage to the heart muscle. Delays of even a few hours can lead to permanent heart damage or death.

Don’t let denial, feeling embarrassed about a false alarm, or hope that it will go away on its own stop you from getting checked out. Describe your symptoms and be firm that you want to be evaluated for a possible heart attack right away.

Some people are at higher risk for heart attacks than others, but a heart attack can strike anyone at any age. Know the warning signs and don’t ignore them, even if you are young or consider yourself healthy. Many heart attack victims had no known risk factors.

While heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, being aware of the warning signs can help reduce your risk. Don’t be caught off guard. Pay attention to your body and get checked out right away if you experience any of these 9 potential heart attack warning signals.

Getting prompt treatment could end up saving your life or preventing serious, permanent heart damage. When it comes to your heart health, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Listen to what your body is telling you and take quick action.