A doctor has revealed three crucial warning signs of a heart attack as one symptom in particular could go unnoticed. And it is more common in females.
A heart attack is a serious medical emergency where the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked. This is usually caused by a blood clot, according to Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE).
Dr Chris Kelly, who is chair of cardiology at UNC Rex Hospital in North Carolina, has highlighted three major indicators of a heart attack, which should prompt anyone suffering with such symptoms to urgently attend Accident & Emergency. One of these signs is particularly common in women, The Express reports.
“The first sign of a possible heart attack is the most classic sign of them all and that’s chest pain. Sometimes its described as chest pressure, tightness or fullness, or just aching,” Dr Kelly said on social media.
“If you’re having anything in your chest that feels uncomfortable and it’s not getting better after a few minutes, especially if it’s also going into your shoulders, arms or jaw, that’s a really concerning sign and you need to get to an emergency room right away.”
The heart specialist explained that shortness of breath could also be a sign of an impending medical emergency, revealing that “if you’re not really doing anything but you feel like you’ve just run a mile, it could be a sign that your heart is struggling to function properly and fluid is backing up into your lungs.
“So if you get sudden onset shortness of breath, get straight to an emergency room for further evaluation.”
Dr Kelly also spoke of a lesser-known indicator of a heart attack which is often mistaken for other medical problems as he suggested that abdominal pain and nausea should not be ignored.
He added: “The third sign of a possible heart attack is actually abdominal pain and nausea. Now, a lot of things can cause that but if you have risk factors for heart disease and you’re over the age of 50, and you have sudden onset belly pain and nausea, and you just don’t feel right, that actually could be a sign of a heart attack – and this is particularly common in women so if you experience that and it doesn’t get better within a few minutes, get straight to the emergency room.”
Early treatment is imperative in relation to any concerns over heart health, with Dr Kelly saying: “As we say in cardiology, time is muscle. The sooner you get into the emergency room, the more likely your heart is to recover and the more likely it is to function properly long term. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
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