Something is off, you feel it. You just cannot put your finger on why you do not feel well. Maybe it was the spicy food from last night? Perhaps you are stressed about an upcoming event. Maybe the pressure in your chest will pass. Why the sweating? Why the feelings of nausea? Should you call for help or alert your caregiver? What do you do? Champion Home Health Care serves all of Brevard County with professional in-home health care in Melbourne, FL, and the surrounding areas. We know how important it is for everyone, including seniors, to recognize the signs of a heart attack. Are you prepared? Would you recognize the symptoms?
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in our nation and cardiovascular-related events such as heart attacks happen to around 1.5 million people each year according to the Million Hearts website. Did you know that one-sixth of all the money in health care goes towards cardiovascular disease? The statistics are astounding. The American Heart Association notes that ever 34 seconds someone out there passes away from diseases of the blood vessels and heart. This is why it is so incredibly important to know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. It could save your life.
Chest Pressure
A feeling of discomfort in the chest lasting more than a few minutes could be indicative of a heart attack. You may feel pain, pressure, squeezing, and a fullness. It is important to note that you may have varying degrees of all these symptoms or experience only one. The significant thing to note is that you do not feel right.
Pain in the Upper Body
Pain in the shoulders, arms, your jaw, teeth, and even your neck should alert you as well. You may feel these things with or without chest discomfort. This pain can extend into the abdominal region as well creating a feeling of heartburn.
Palpitations
You may notice your heart beating irregularly, stronger, or more rapidly.
Short of Breath
If you feel you cannot find your breath, this could be a symptom as well.
Sweating, Nausea, Anxiety, and Lightheadedness
Another thing to recognize is that women and men may experience the symptoms of a heart attack differently. The most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women is chest pain. However, women tend to experience other symptoms such as jaw pain, nausea with or without vomiting, lightheadedness, and feeling short of breath more than men do. Women may feel an exhausting overall fatigue and mistake the symptoms of a heart attack for the flu or another illness.
Every year, cardiovascular disease is responsible for more deaths than cancer and diseases of the lungs combined. Please pay attention to the signals your body is giving you. If something does not feel right, do not wait. Call for help immediately. You do not have to become a statistic. Your chances of survival decrease with every moment that passes so please seek help immediately should you experience the symptoms of a heart attack.
