10 Signs of A Heart Attack In Men
A heart attack is known medically as a myocardial infarction. It occurs when blood flow to the heart is compromised due to a blockage in the blood vessels, resulting in ischemia and heart muscle damage. It can lead to complications, such as an irregular heartbeat, cardiogenic shock, and heart failure. Most cases of heart attack occur due to underlying coronary artery diseases. Risk factors of a heart attack include increasing age, male gender, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, and stress.
Electrocardiograms (ECG), blood tests, and coronary angiography are some methods used to diagnose a heart attack. The treatment for a heart attack is time-critical. Aspirin can be taken for immediate treatment. Other types of treatment include nitroglycerin, opioids, beta blockers, statins, supplemental oxygen, thrombolysis, and percutaneous coronary intervention. Heparin can be used to treat a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Severe cases with multiple blockages may require a coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking, lowering alcohol consumption, and daily aspirin therapy may also help.
Heart Attack In Men Sign #1: Chest Pain
Chest pain is one of the most characteristic symptoms of a heart attack. The chest pain is often described as a squeezing or crushing sensation. It is as if a heavy object has been placed on the chest, causing difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest.
The pain does not change with body position and can last for more than twenty minutes. One of the classic signs of a heart attack, known as Levine’s sign, is when someone clenches one or both fists over his or her sternum.
Heart Attack In Men Sign #2: Upper Abdominal Pain or Indigestion
Some cases of heart attack can be mistaken for indigestion or upper abdominal pain. The pain is felt in the upper abdomen or the epigastric region, the same area where heartburn occurs. It feels like heaviness or discomfort rather than a sharp or stabbing pain.
Many patients mistake it for indigestion because they experience burping as well. Patients who exhibit these symptoms and have other risk factors for a heart attack, such as increased age, male gender, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, should seek medical attention.
Heart Attack In Men Sign #3: Pain in the Arms, Neck, Jaw, or Back
Many patients experience pain that radiates from the upper arm to the wrist and fingers during a heart attack. While it is usually observed in the left arm, it can also occur in the right arm. The pain can also radiate upward from the chest to the neck and jaw.
Back pain from a heart attack is often felt between the shoulder blades. Pain in the arms, neck, jaw, and back can occur with or without chest pain.
Heart Attack In Men Sign #4: Dyspnea
Dyspnea is the medical term for shortness of breath. It occurs when an individual must make an extra effort to breathe normally. Some characteristics of dyspnea include discomfort while breathing, tightness in the chest, and air hunger (the feeling that there is not enough oxygen).
It is a common and nonspecific symptom that is often seen in various conditions, such as asthma, pneumonia, congestive heart failure, interstitial lung disease, panic disorder, anxiety, psychogenic causes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart attack.
Heart Attack In Men Sign #5: Profuse Sweating
Profuse Sweating is also known as diaphoresis. Diaphoresis is pathological sweating that occurs during abnormal conditions. In a heart attack, diaphoresis occurs because of increased firing in the sympathetic nervous system.
Patients who experience diaphoresis and also have other risk factors for a heart attack should seek medical attention to rule out a heart attack.
Heart Attack In Men Sign #6: Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea is a sensation of unease and discomfort that often includes an urge to vomit. Vomiting is the involuntary and forceful expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth and sometimes the nose.
Both nausea and vomiting are common and nonspecific symptoms that are observed in many conditions, such as pregnancy, hyperemesis gravidarum, food poisoning, and cases of severe pain. Severe pain may be a contributing factor to nausea and vomiting in heart attack patients.
Heart Attack In Men Sign #7: Loss of Consciousness
Loss of consciousness is when an individual is unable to maintain awareness of oneself or his or her environment and does not respond to stimuli.
In a heart attack, loss of consciousness may occur because of inadequate blood flow to the brain since the damaged heart muscle cannot pump properly.
Heart Attack In Men Sign #8: Light-headedness
Light-headedness is a sensation of dizziness that may cause someone to faint. The condition may be short-lived, recurring, or prolonged, although most cases are self-limiting and tend to resolve on their own.
Causes of light-headedness include inadequate blood supply, shortage of oxygen to the brain, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, hyperventilation, dehydration, panic attacks, and anemia. In a heart attack, light-headedness may occur because of inadequate blood flow since the damaged heart muscle cannot pump properly.
Heart Attack In Men Sign #9: Anxiety
Feeling anxious is a normal response to certain situations. Sometimes patients with early symptoms of a heart attack may develop a feeling of imminent death.
Many conditions may cause this symptom to appear and in some cases like a panic attack, chest pain may also occur. Therefore, a healthcare professional needs to diagnose the condition.
Heart Attack In Men Sign #10: Palpitations
Palpitations refer to an abnormally fast or irregular heartbeat. It is a nonspecific symptom observed in many conditions, such as anxiety, asthma, hyperthyroidism, and coronary heart disease.
With the heart suffering from the lack of oxygen, palpitations are a logical symptom seen in patients with a heart attack. If you are suffering from palpitations and chest pain, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
