Is it possible to feel the approach of a heart attack in advance?
Last reviewed: 07.06.2024
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Frequent stress, constant anxiety, constant psycho-emotional tension - unfortunately, all these have become attributes of today's life. Along with this, many people have a significantly increased probability of developing myocardial infarctions.
The most common symptom of an emerging pathology is chest pain. But there are also other signs - such as heaviness of breathing, nausea, dizziness. These manifestations are possible in different forms - from a mild, almost imperceptible malaise to severe attacks.
In myocardial infarction, ischemic necrosis of the heart muscle occurs: blood flow to the heart is blocked, the affected muscle tissue begins to die off, heart failure develops. The main manifestations of an emerging problem can be:
- A feeling of tightness or "weight" in the chest;
- pain in the left arm, shoulder, shoulder blade, or neck;
- heaviness in breathing;
- Nausea that cannot be attributed to digestive disorders;
- increased sweating;
- dizziness;
- sudden or increasing weakness;
- confused breathing.
The appearance of the problem may be combined and correlated with frequent smoking or alcohol consumption, obesity, lack of exercise, recent or prolonged stress, and diabetes mellitus.
In this situation, age is not an indicator. According to statistics, myocardial infarction occurs equally in elderly and young people.
Conditions for which you should seek medical attention immediately and without delay:
- noted strong pain sensations behind the sternum, wavy, with repetition in a calm state;
- the pain lasts for more than a quarter of an hour;
- pain does not disappear after taking Nitroglycerin;
- there's an unreasonable sense of dread, heart palpitations;
- blood pressure changes dramatically.
In case of these pathological signs, it is recommended not to delay and call an ambulance.
In approaching myocardial infarction, it is very important to resume oxygen supply to the heart muscle as soon as possible, ensuring normal blood circulation in the tissues. If these tasks are realized within the first two hours, the pathology does not have time to cause pronounced damage to the myocardium. With the passage of time, irreparable damage to the heart worsens, and if no help is rendered, about 20% of patients die. Of the surviving patients, every second becomes disabled.
What should be done if there are signs of an impending heart attack? Basic steps: call an ambulance, provide the patient with free breathing, elevate the upper torso, take Nitroglycerin or an acetylsalicylic acid tablet.
Myocardial infarction is an emergency condition that is life-threatening. The sooner a doctor's assistance is provided, the sooner adequate cardiac blood flow is restored, the greater the chances that the patient will survive.
If there are risk factors, it is better to discuss with a doctor in advance the algorithm of actions in case of deterioration of the condition, to determine a plan of preventive measures, which should include medication support, and a healthy lifestyle, and nutritional correction.
Based on material published on , Information Technologies in Medicine page