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Heart attack symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention

Team AckoDec 9, 2024

Think heart attacks are only a concern after 50? Think again. An alarming rise in heart attacks among people in their 30s is changing that narrative. This growing trend is too serious to ignore, making it crucial to understand the symptoms, causes, treatments, and preventive measures. After all, taking action today could make all the difference tomorrow

Heart

Contents

Types of Heart Attacks
What Are The Symptoms Of A Heart Attack?
Do Heart Attack Symptoms Vary Between Men And Women?
What Are The Reasons For Heart Attacks?
What are the Risk Factors for Heart Attack?
Diagnostics and Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease
How Do I Know If I Am Having A Heart Attack?
What to Do in Case of a Heart Attack
Preventive Measures to Avoid a Heart Attack?
Key Takeaway

A heart attack is a medical condition where the heart does not function properly, and the person is at risk of death. Commonly, it can occur in men above the age of 45 and women above the age of 55. Heart attacks can happen without a warning. However, many patients exhibit warning signs and symptoms hours, days, or even weeks in advance. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, and not all heart attacks are the same in terms of symptoms or severity.

Types of Heart Attacks

A heart attack can be of the following three types.

Coronary spasm, or unstable angina
A coronary spasm occurs when the arteries tighten suddenly, causing reduced blood flow to the heart. It causes chest pains in patients but usually doesn't damage the heart.
Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
NSTEMI partially blocks the coronary artery, reducing blood flow to the heart. This is more serious than a coronary spasm and can damage heart muscles.
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
STEMI is the most severe type of heart attack. It occurs when the coronary artery is completely blocked. It causes the most damage to heart muscles and requires immediate treatment to restore normal blood flow to the heart.

The pattern that is displayed on an electrocardiogram is referred to as the "ST- segment." Elevated segments will only be visible in a STEMI. Heart attacks classified as significant can occur in STEMI and NSTEMI patients.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Heart Attack?

Following are the symptoms of a heart attack.

Rapid or irregular pulse
Chest Pain is one of the most common symptoms of a heart attack, but not all chest pain is heart related.
Discomfort that spreads to your arm, back, jaw, or throat
Pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness, or discomfort in the arm, chest, or area behind the breastbone
Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or lightheadedness
Feelings of suffocation, bloating, or fullness (symptoms are similar to a heartburn)
Fatigue, anxiety, or shortness of breath
Breathing issues
Unusual tiredness
Feeling of unsteadiness or fainting
Nausea or diarrhoea
Discomfort in the neck, shoulder, or upper back
Discomfort in the stomach (sensation similar to Indigestion)

Do Heart Attack Symptoms Vary Between Men And Women?

Medical conditions like Obesity, Diabetes, or high blood pressure are commonly found in both genders. However, there are a few differences between heart attack symptoms for men and women.

Women can experience heart attack symptoms that are more subtle and difficult to recognise, especially if the doctor is just searching for the "typical" heart attack signs.
Women tend to experience rare symptoms like indigestion, shortness of breath, and back pain, even when there is no obvious chest discomfort.

What Are The Reasons For Heart Attacks?

Most heart attacks happen because of coronary artery disease, which is when the arteries that supply blood to the heart get blocked, usually by plaques made of cholesterol. Here are some common reasons why a heart attack can happen:

Eating disorders: Long-term eating disorders can cause changes in blood pressure, which puts extra strain on the heart and increases the risk of a heart attack.
Artery spasm: Sometimes, the muscles in the artery walls tighten suddenly, which can block blood flow and lead to a heart attack.
Obstruction: A blood clot or even an air bubble can get stuck in a coronary artery, stopping blood from reaching the heart, causing a heart attack.
Injury: Any trauma to the coronary arteries can cause tears, messing up blood flow and leading to a heart attack.
SCAD: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is when a tear forms in an artery, blocking blood flow and causing a heart attack.
Rare conditions: Abnormal coronary arteries or certain medications can also increase the risk of a heart attack.

What are the Risk Factors for Heart Attack?

Your risk of getting coronary heart disease (the medical term for plaque accumulating in the heart's arteries that may result in a heart attack) increases with the number of risk factors and with the severity of each risk factor. Here are a few examples of these risk factors:

Old age
Smoking
High cholesterol levels
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Sedentary lifestyle
Unmanaged stress
Obesity
Alcohol
Eating a diet high in trans fats and saturated fats
Sleep apnea

Diagnostics and Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease

The diagnostics and treatment process of coronary heart disease can include the following. Note that the process can be different for different people.

ECG Test: An ECG, or electrocardiogram, is a quick test that captures the heart's electrical activity. It can identify the extent and location of the damage to your cardiac muscle. Additionally, your heart rhythm and rate can be monitored.
Stress Test: The medical professional may do a stress test or a radionuclide scan to determine whether other parts of the heart are still in danger of another heart attack.
Cardiac Catheterisation: During this procedure, a catheter (a small, hollow tube) is threaded up to your heart through a blood artery in your groin or wrist. Your heart's arteries are marked with dye. Once blockages have been found, your doctor can perform an angioplasty or place a stent to unblock the artery and improve blood flow to and from the heart.
Blood Test: A heart specialist can gauge the size and start time of the heart attack by checking the levels of cardiac enzymes. Troponin levels can also be determined via blood tests. Troponins are proteins found inside heart cells and are released when the cells are damaged due to lack of blood flow to the heart. Blood tests can be performed at intervals of between 4 and 8 hours.

To avoid lasting heart damage or death, the treatment must be started immediately. The necessary medical procedure can begin in the ambulance itself or the emergency room (if someone else brings the patient directly to the hospital).

How Do I Know If I Am Having A Heart Attack?

A heart attack takes place when blood flow to your heart gets blocked. It often starts with chest pain or pressure—like something heavy is sitting on your chest. The pain might spread to your arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach. You could also feel out of breath, dizzy or start sweating. Women sometimes can experience less obvious signs, like bad indigestion, extreme fatigue, or even anxiety. Symptoms might vary from person to person. If you experience any one of the symptoms mentioned above, call for help immediately. Prompt action can save your life.

What to Do in Case of a Heart Attack

In case someone experiences a heart attack in your presence, contact the emergency services immediately. Make sure the person feels alright. In case the person collapses, perform manual chest compressions - pressing the person’s chest with the base of your fingers-locked hands, allowing the chest to rise back up between each compression. Continue this till the person feels better or emergency help arrives. Aspirin helps reduce blood clotting and can be given to the patient if they are not allergic to it. Taking aspirin can lower the rate of death by heart attack by 25%.

Preventive Measures to Avoid a Heart Attack?

Here are some preventive measures to help reduce the risk of a heart attack.

Avoid smoking

Smoking tobacco is one of the most significant reasons for a heart attack. You can avoid smoking tobacco by opting for a less harmful alternative or consider quitting. Even if you do not smoke actively but find yourself in the vicinity of smokers, you are at risk because of second-hand smoke. Studies have shown that second-hand smoke can sometimes cause more damage to the people inhaling it.

Engage in physical activity

Regular physical activity helps build your heart's overall health. It can also increase energy levels and help control weight gain. It is not always necessary to "hit the gym" if you want to stay fit. In the beginning, you can engage in your favourite sport or go on short walks.. This will help you get into the habit of exercising regularly. Regular exercise also helps establish a normal sleeping pattern. With moderate to high-level regular exercise, you sleep better and wake up feeling fresh!

Maintain a balanced diet

Your body requires nutrition to function, and it must receive adequate nutrition at regular intervals. A nutritious diet can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, lower blood pressure, and cholesterol, and protect the heart. Limiting the intake of certain food items like salt, processed carbohydrates, sugar, etc., will also promote better health. You can see rewarding results when you have a good relationship with food. Do not indulge in FAD diets, as sudden changes in food consumption can cause disruption in blood pressure and affect heart health.

Monitor your health

To have a healthy heart, you must keep track of your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and take necessary measures to avoid possible issues. This can be achieved with the help of regular health check-ups. Tests that monitor your health can give a fair idea about the overall health of your heart. Here are a few tests that your doctor may recommend.

Diabetes: Your doctor could advise early screening if you have diabetes risk factors, such as being overweight or having a family history of the disease. Screening should start at age 45 and be repeated every three years because people with diabetes are at risk of heart disease.
Cholesterol: Adults should check their cholesterol at least every four to six years. Typically, cholesterol testing must begin at age 20. If you have other risk factors, such as a family history of early-onset heart disease, earlier testing may be advised.
Blood pressure: Routine blood pressure checks must begin early in life and be done at a regular interval of at least two years. You should undergo screening once a year if you are between 18 and 39 years old and have risk factors for high blood pressure. A yearly blood pressure check is also essential for everyone over the age of 40.

Key Takeaway

Understanding the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, what causes it, how it’s treated, and ways to prevent it can play a big role in reducing how often it happens—especially since it affects people of all ages. Catching the warning signs early and getting quick medical care can save lives. The good news? You can significantly lower your chances of a heart attack by adopting healthy habits, keeping an eye on your health, and managing stress effectively.

Frequently asked questions

Can a person suffer from multiple heart attacks in a lifetime?

A person can suffer from multiple heart attacks in a lifetime. But with each episode, the risk of it becoming fatal increases. So it is essential to take active measures to avoid an attack altogether. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating a balanced diet, and staying fit can lower the risk of having a heart attack.

What is the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack?

While cardiac arrest is like an electrical issue in the heart's rhythm, heart attacks occur from circulatory problems of blood in the body. Cardiac arrest is uncommon and may occur in high-risk cases. However, a heart attack may become a cause of cardiac arrest.

What causes coronary heart disease?

The primary cause of Coronary heart disease is blocked arteries. Fatty deposits on the artery wall can cause an obstruction. This may lead to problems with normal blood flow to the heart.

How can I test myself for a heart attack at home?

Measuring blood pressure and checking pulse rate at home can keep you aware of your body and heart health. However, visiting a healthcare facility is always a wise option when experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned in the article above.

What is cardiac anxiety?

Cardiac anxiety or cardiophobia is a type of anxiety disorder which stems from the fear of dying from a heart attack. Even mild pain in the arms or chest can lead one to think they are having a heart attack.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet. As this content piece is not vetted by a medical professional, please consult a doctor before making any health-related decisions.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_attack.htm

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack

https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-disease-heart-attacks