01 Mar 2021  |   04:56am IST

Is it a heart attack?

Is it a heart attack?

Francisco Colaço

If something went wrong with your heart, would you know it?

Not all heart problems come with clear warning signs. There is not always that alarming chest clutch followed by a fall to the floor like you see in the movies. Some heart symptoms don’t even happen in your chest, and it’s not always easy to tell what’s going on.

If you're not sure, get it checked out. That’s especially true if you are 60 or older, are overweight, or have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. The more risk factors you have, the more you should be concerned about anything that might be heart-related.

Especially watch out for these problems:


1. Chest discomfort

It’s the most common sign of heart danger. If you have a blocked artery or are having a heart attack, you may feel pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest. The feeling usually lasts longer than a few minutes. It may happen when you're at rest or when you're doing something physical.

If it's just a very brief pain -- or if it's a spot that hurts more when you touch or push on it -- it's probably not your heart. If the symptoms are more severe and don’t go away after a few minutes, you should call 108.

Also, keep in mind you can have heart problems -- even a heart attack -- without chest pain. That’s particularly common among diabetic women.


2. Indigestion, heartburn

Some people may vomit and women are more likely to report this type of symptom. Of course, you can have an upset stomach for many reasons that have nothing to do with your heart. But you need to be aware that it can also happen during a heart attack.

3. Pain that spreads to the arm

Another classic heart attack symptom is pain that radiates down the left side of the body. It almost always starts from the chest and moves outward.


4. You feel dizzy or lightheaded

If you suddenly feel unsteady and you also have chest discomfort or shortness of breath, call a doctor right away. It could mean your blood pressure has dropped because your heart isn't able to pump the way it should.


5. Throat or jaw pain

If you have pain or pressure in the centre of your chest that spreads up into your throat or jaw, it could be a sign of a heart attack. Call 108 and seek medical attention to make sure everything is all right.


7. Sweating

Breaking out in a cold sweat for no obvious reason could signal a heart attack. If this happens along with any of the above other symptoms, call 108 to get to a hospital right away. Don’t try to drive yourself.


9. A cough that won’t quit

If you have a long-lasting cough that produces pink mucus, it could be a sign of heart failure. This happens when the heart can't keep up with the body's demands, causing blood to leak back into the lungs.


10. Your legs, feet, and ankles are swollen

This could be a sign that your heart doesn’t pump blood as effectively as it should. When the heart can't pump fast enough, blood backs up in the veins and causes bloating.

 What Is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack happens when something blocks the blood flow to your heart so it can’t get the oxygen it needs. Lack of blood supply can cause tissue death and even lasting damage to your heart muscle.

What Do I Do if I Have a Heart Attack?

After a heart attack, you need quick treatment to open the blocked artery and lessen the damage. At the first signs of a heart attack, call 108. The best time to treat a heart attack is within 1 or 2 hours after symptoms begin. 

Heart Attack Treatment

Treatment begins right away, sometimes in the ambulance or emergency room.

What drugs are used to treat a heart attack?

Drug therapy aims to break up or prevent blood clots, stop platelets from collecting and sticking to the plaque, stabilize the plaque, and prevent more ischemia.

Take these medications as soon as possible (within 1 or 2 hours from the start of your heart attack, if possible) to limit heart damage.

Drugs used during a heart attack may include:

*Aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor (Brilinta) to stop blood clotting that may make the heart attack worse

*Thrombolytic therapy ("clot busters") to dissolve blood clots in your heart's arteries

*Cardiac catheterisation. In addition to making a picture of your arteries, cardiac cath can be used for procedures (such as angiography or stent) to open narrowed or blocked arteries.

*Bypass surgery. You might have bypass surgery in the days after a heart attack to restore the blood supply to your heart.

Treatments don’t cure coronary artery disease. You can still have another heart attack. But you can take steps to make it less likely.

What lifestyle changes are needed after a heart attack?

To keep heart disease from getting worse and to head off another heart attack, follow your doctor's advice. You might need to change your lifestyle, including:

*Stop smoking

*Lower your cholesterol

*Control your diabetes and blood pressure

*Follow an exercise plan

*Keep a healthy body weight

*Control stress

(Dr. Francisco Colaço is a seniormost consulting physician, pioneer of Echocardiography in Goa) 


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