Heart Attack Signs

The heart is the most important organ in the humans and animals and whose functioning regulates the health of the entire body. It is a complex, muscular, highly specialized organ situated in the chest, which maintains the circulation of blood throughout the body. Heart attacks are a very commonly observed condition also known as an acute myocardial infarction. It is defined as the expiry of the heart tissues, which are caused by the complete blockage in one of its arteries, which supply blood to it. This further results in an interruption in the blood supply to the heart, contracting the heart muscles to such an extent that it may be fatal. There are a few heart attack signs which can be observed and if anyone is suffering from it, they should be given immediate medical help.

Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms

There are many misconceptions about heart attacks in society, as people think there is nothing you can do save someone from them. There are heart attack signs which can be observed before and during a fatal heart attack, thus if anyone is showing these symptoms, you should never ignore them. Signs of a heart attack are of two types, some symptoms are common to both the sexes and some differ for each of them. Considering the fact that there can be heart diseases which might lead to heart attacks after a certain age, men and women suffer different symptoms.

Severe Chest Pain
This is one of the very common heart attack symptoms, which is observed even during strokes and cardiac arrests. Before and during a heart attack, there is a slight discomfort in the center of the chest area, which grows to unbearable pain. This chest pain lasts for a few seconds, goes away and then comes back and there is a feeling of unbearable pressure and squeezing in the chest.

Pain in Other Parts
Along with the chest pain, there are other areas in the body which also experience a certain discomfort of squeezing. These symptoms include pain in the back, neck and usually left arm but could be in both. There is a sudden numbness and weakness in legs and face, giving you blurred vision in one or both eyes. You lose balance or coordination and find it difficult to walk.

Breathing Problems
This usually occurs during chest pains or after them, where you cannot breathe properly and feel suffocated. Due to shortness of breath, you fail to breathe normally leading to a headache or a migraine. There is confusion and inability to speak or understand anything around you. Heavy breathing for about 5 seconds is observed when the patients head is tilted.

Other Signs
Some other heart attack signs could be, suddenly breaking out in a cold sweat, lightheaded feeling and nausea. Dizziness and sudden loss of responsiveness is also a very prominent heart attack symptom. There is overwhelming fatigue which is observed, due to which there is sweating and you feel like hot air is being blown through your chest.

Heart Attack Signs in Men
The following are a few more heart attack signs in men, other than those mentioned in the above paragraphs.

• Pain in upper abdomen
• Anxiety
• Indigestion
• Frequent chest pain
• Feeling of heaviness

Heart Attack Signs in Women
Women also suffer from heart attacks due to many reasons, one being menopause, when the menstrual cycle comes to a halt due to age.

• Unusual fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Indigestion
• Anxiety
• Cold sweat
• Dizziness
• Loss of consciousness

With these heart attack signs, which can be observed either before or during a person suffers a heart attack, it is very easy to judge a person's condition. If anyone around you or you are a heart patient, you should always get your regular checkups done. As precaution is better than cure, you should make sure you don't ignore these symptoms, because chances are that you may not get one more chance.