Heart attack warning signs!

Don't Ignore Signals of a heart attack! | Don't hesitate to seek medical help! | Fast action can save many lives!

During a heart attack a "clot" blocks the artery and prevents blood reaching the heart muscle. That part of the heart muscle begins to die. The more time passes without treatment the more the damage. Timely treatment dissolves the clot and opens the arteries to rejuvenate the muscle.

Heart attack warning signs!

Chest discomfort

Feeling uncomfortable with pressure, pain, squeezing, and heaviness in the centre of the chest which lasts more than a few minutes or goes and comes back. (Especially, if it is lasts beyond 30 minutes or not responding to sorbitrate, it is extremely suggestive of a heart attack.).

Discomfort in other parts of the body besides the chest

Discomfort (pain or heaviness) may be present in the arms, back, neck, and jaw. Chest discomfort may spread to the arms, shoulders, jaw or neck or, sometimes, may travel to the chest from those areas.  Much less common is upper abdominal pain, with feeling of fullness, acidity and indigestion. This does not respond to antacids and should not be ignored but checked up for a possible heart attack.

Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath or 'breathlessness' may be present, before the chest pain sets in, with the pain (or discomfort) or may follow the pain.

Other signs

Alongside the above signals, nausea, sweating, or light-headedness (giddiness) may be present. Sometimes, breathlessness without pain, or a choking without feeling pain, may be the only features.

First -aid at home

Aspirin can be given to a person before medical help is available. Aspirin helps to thin the blood and helps the blood pass through the blocked arteries by breaking down the fresh blood clot. It is best to crush half a tablet of aspirin and put it under the tongue for fast absorption into the blood. Alternatively, half a tablet can be crushed and given with water; or if the aspirin is a water dissolvable preparation then it can be dissolved in half a glass of water and drunk. (Aspirin should be avoided in persons with a history of ulcer in the stomach and in person allergic to aspirin)

What next?

You need to see the doctor. It is best to go to a hospital where ECG and blood tests can be done.