Six months before a heart attack the body can send signals: they are often harmless, but it is good to keep them in mind

by Shirley Marie Bradby

July 19, 2019

Six months before a heart attack the body can send signals: they are often harmless, but it is good to keep them in mind
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A heart attack or myocardial infarction is the arrest of blood flow within the heart muscle due to a rupture or arterial blood clot.

The most common symptoms are pain or tightness in the chest, back pain or discomfort, fainting, cold sweats, and shortness of breath.

In some cases, however, the body gives warning signals even several months before such an event occurs.

Here are the warning signs that should not be underestimated or ignored.

via hackspirit.com

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  • Numbness or heaviness in the arms. In most cases, cardiovascular diseases radiate to the upper extremities with sensations of weakness or tingling. In this circumstance, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
  • Shortness of breath. The difficulty in breathing can have several reasons, but it should not be ignored or underestimated because it means that the lungs are not receiving enough oxygen. You need to see a doctor and find out why!
  • Anxiety. It is necessary to distinguish anxiety that is physiological, that is, generated by a concrete reason, from the pathological one. In fact, pathological anxiety is a state of agitation not commensurate with the cause or, indeed, without any apparent reason. In the second case, it would be wise to consult a specialist.
  • Constant fatigue. Fatigue from work or physical activity is perfectly normal, but if this feeling lasts too long, or does not have a real cause, it is best to consult your doctor because something is probably wrong.
  • Indigestion. Occasionally, it may happen that you consume a meal that is difficult to digest. However, it is different, if this condition begins to become almost habitual. This is a warning sign that should not be ignored.
  • Sleep disorders. Stress can cause insomnia, but if you frequently find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, with both thirst and the urgency to urinate, you need to seriously investigate the causes.
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In the event that a family member, a friend or even just a person that you see on the street, falls unconscious to the ground or floor, you must immediately check if they are still breathing or if they are no longer reactive.

Call emergency health services immediately and give all the necessary information to the emergency medical responders.

While waiting for help or a defibrillator to arrive, it is very useful to perform cardiac massage by kneeling on one side of the person who is lying on the floor or ground and practicing about 100 compressions per minute.

The movement that is generated by the outstretched arms and the pressure below the thorax serves to keep the blood circulating, thus protecting the vital organs from possible necrotic damage.

In the presence of any of these symptoms, do not hesitate to call your doctor immediately.

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