Heart symptoms you shouldn’t ignore

Chest pain

This is the most common sign of a heart attack, but it’s not always a crushing, sudden pain. It could be more of an uncomfortable feeling – like squeezing or heaviness. You might mistake it for heartburn. It may last for more than a few minutes or go away and come back.

Arm or back pain

Men typically feel it in the left arm, but women may be hurt in both. Your arms could feel heavy or “useless.” It could be a sign of angina or a heart attack.

Pain may start in your chest, then move to your upper or lower back. Be suspicious if the pain comes out of nowhere or wakes you up at night and doesn’t seem linked to a particular joint or muscle.

Neck or jaw pain

You can feel pain above the shoulders when you’re having a heart attack. Your lower jaw on one or both sides may hurt or feel tight. Your neck may ache, or you could have a choking or burning feeling in your throat.

Unusual fatigue

Everybody’s busy, so it’s normal to feel tired once in a while. But it’s a red flag for a heart attack if you suddenly get wiped out at times you usually wouldn’t. Maybe you’re extra worn out after your typical exercise routine or you’re exhausted just walking to the bathroom. You also might feel drained but still find it hard to sleep.

Fainting and nausea

You may feel like you’re going to pass out. Fainting happens when your blood pressure is low and your heart isn’t pumping the right amount of oxygen to your brain. It might be because you’re overheating, but heart conditions could also be the culprit.

Nausea and lack of appetite can also be signs of trouble with your ticker.

Sweating and trouble breathing

If you’re having a heart attack, you may break out in a sweat even if you’re not pushing yourself hard. You could feel cold and clammy. You may be short of breath, like you’ve run a marathon, even if you haven’t moved off your couch. When you lie down, it may be even harder to breathe.

Coughing and wheezing

Shortness of breath with a regular cough and wheeze can be signs of heart failure. That’s when your heart doesn’t pump well enough to supply your body with all the blood and oxygen it needs. When you have heart failure, blood and fluids can back up into your lungs. You may have a hard time breathing or hear a rattling sound when you inhale. You might cough up pinkish mucus.

Swelling

You could have it in your feet, ankles, legs, or stomach if you have heart failure. You may notice that your shoes feel tight. As blood flow out of your heart slows down, blood going back to it through the veins can back up. That causes fluid to collect in spots that it shouldn’t. Your kidneys can’t get rid of water and salt, which leads to more swelling.

Trouble getting around

When you have heart failure, your body moves blood and the oxygen it carries away from areas that aren’t as important, like your limbs, and sends it to the brain and heart. That makes moving around harder. Regular activities, like walking the dog or going up and down stairs, may be hard to do. As your heart gets weaker, simply getting dressed or walking across the room can tire you out.

Rapid heart rate

With heart failure, your ticker may beat fast to make up for its lack of pumping power. You may feel like your heart is racing.

Irregular heartbeat

A heart rhythm disorder like atrial fibrillation (AFib) can cause your ticker to beat fast and out of sync. Some people describe the feeling as a flutter or like a fish is flopping around inside their chest.

AFib can lead to blood clots and stroke if you don’t treat it. It’s possible you might not notice anything unusual about the way your heart beats but you might feel short of breath, tired, or lightheaded.

When to get emergency help

Get medical help right away if you think that you or someone you’re with has any of the symptoms of a heart attack. Quick treatment can cut down the chances of damage to your heart. Call emergency if you have:

  • Pain, pressure, or squeezing in your chest
  • Pain or discomfort that spreads to your shoulders, back, neck, or arms
  • Shortness of breath
  • Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
  • Sweating and nausea.

Source: WEB MD

About STELLAPHARM

Stellapharm is one of leading generics pharmaceutical companies and strong producer of anti-viral drugs in Vietnam. The company established in Vietnam in 2000; and focuses on both prescription drugs and non-prescription especially in cardiovascular diseases, antiviral drugs, anti-diabetics drugs, etc. and our products are now used by millions of patients in more than 50 countries worldwide.

The company is globally recognized for its quality through our facilities have been audited and approved by stringent authority like EMA, PMDA, Taiwan GMP, local WHO and others.

Additional information for this article: Stellapharm J.V. Co., Ltd. – Branch 1
A: 40 Tu Do Avenue, Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park, An Phu Ward, Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam
T: +84 274 376 7470 | F: +84 274 376 7469 | E: info@stellapharm.com | W: www.stellapharm.com

You May like

24 Nov 2020

Top 10 healthy heart tips

A healthy lifestyle will make your heart healthier. Here are 10 things you can do to look after your heart. 1. Give up smoking If you’re a smoker, quit. It’s the single best thing you can do for your heart health. Smoking is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease. A year after

08 Dec 2021

21 foods that can save your heart

1. Fresh herbs When you add these to foods instead of salt and fat, you’re making a heart-healthy choice. They add flavor without the bad stuff. Spices and other foods are delicious ways to eat heart-smart. 2. Black beans Mild, tender black beans are packed with heart-healthy nutrients. Folate, antioxidants, and magnesium can help lower

25 Dec 2020

7 simple steps to avoid a heart attack

Every 37 seconds, someone in the United States dies from heart disease.   That’s about 650,000 people a year. And the numbers have been increasing every year since 2014. Perhaps even more shocking than those numbers is the fact that this disease, in most cases, is largely preventable – and the steps of prevention really aren’t

17 Dec 2021

Pill–free ways to cut your heart disease risk

Go for a walk Just 40 minutes three or four times a week (or 25 minutes of harder exercise, like jogging) can lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and body weight. You don’t have to do it all at once. Even 10 minutes at a time is great for your heart. Take the dog or meet a

14 May 2021

How to check your pulse (heart rate)

What is your pulse? When your heart beats it pushes blood around your body. This heart beat can be felt as your ‘pulse’ on your wrist or neck. Your pulse is measured by counting the number of times your heart beats in one minute. For example, if your heart contracts 72 times in one minute,

12 May 2021

How heart disease affects your body

What is it? From clogged arteries to infections, heart disease covers a lot of ground. It’s not just one thing, but a group of conditions that affect your heart and body in different ways. It can lead to problems like heart attacks and strokes, and it’s the most common cause of death for both men

29 Oct 2020

Diet and Heart Health Basics

Heart health and your diet Your doctor may have recently told you that you’re at risk for heart disease due to your lifestyle or your family history. Perhaps you’ve recently experienced a major cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more Americans die of heart disease than any other condition.

28 Apr 2021

What to know about heart attack

What is it?   When blood can’t get to your heart, your heart muscle doesn’t get the oxygen it needs. Without oxygen, its cells can be damaged or die. The key to recovery is to get your blood flow restored quickly. Get medical help right away if you think you’re having symptoms of a heart