Early Signs Of Heart Attack And Stroke You Must Be Aware Of, Even If You Are Young
Experience: 4 yearsJyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres.
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The heart is one of the most important organs of your body. It works day and night, non-stop, throughout your life. So, isn’t it your responsibility to take good care of your heart by maintaining a healthy lifestyle?
Did you know that according to a survey, most Americans are dying because of different types of heart-related diseases? And if you are under the impression that these patients might be elderly persons, then let us clarify – that is not the case! Heart stroke, heart attacks, or any other deadly disease related to the heart are no longer confined to the elderly. In fact, they are most commonly noticed in young and middle-aged people. Whether you blame it on their lifestyle or their genes, this is true, and is quite alarming and cause for worry.
You might have also heard of the model Katie May, who died recently in February 2016 at the mere age of 34. The reason – a stroke. It was when the news spread like wildfire that people realized that young people could also be victims of stroke. But, to be honest, it is not like you get a heart attack or stroke all of a sudden, and you get hospitalized. Your body starts to show warning symptoms early on. And if you’re aware and smart enough to recognize those symptoms, you still have time to protect yourself from the risk of heart diseases or stroke. Without stretching it any further, let us learn a bit about what those early signs are.
1. Chest Pain
This one is considered as a classic symptom of a stroke or heart attack. You might experience pressure and squeezing initially, followed by pain right at the center of the chest. This pain typically lasts for few minutes, and then it becomes normal after some time.
2. Jaw Pain
The chest pain can sometimes spread to the arms, jaws, and the back. Hence, you might experience pain in the jaw or even tooth pain.
3. Loss Of Vision Or Blurred Vision
The onset of a stroke can often lead to blurred or impaired vision in either one eye or both the eyes at the same time.
4. Shortness Of Breath
You might experience shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing quite often before a stroke occurs. In medical terms, shortness of breath is known as dyspnea. This might sometimes also lead to rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations due to lack of oxygen. You must never ignore this symptom, and as soon as you notice it, it is recommended to visit the doctor immediately.
5. Nausea
Nausea is a rare symptom, but some people complain of indigestion or flu before a heart attack. This symptom is usually noticed more in women than in men.
6. Vomiting
Nausea is often accompanied by vomiting, but it usually occurs when the condition becomes too severe.
7. Sudden Numbness In Limbs
A sudden numbness in limbs or arms can be a sign of a heart attack or stroke. This can even cause paralysis, and the patient may collapse as well.
8. Excessive Sweating
Sweating usually accompanies a heart attack. Some people usually break out in a cold sweat.
9. Incoherent Language
Incoherent speech is one of the earliest symptoms of a stroke, which is often accompanied by trouble in speaking and understanding, and confusion.
10. Hiccups
A sudden bout of continuous hiccups is an apparent symptom. This is usually caused due to shortness of breath and lack of oxygen.
11. Pain On One Side Of The Face
A sudden pain on one side of the face can also be considered a possible symptom of heart attack.
12. Facial Weakness
This is a very visible symptom of a stroke. One side of the patient’s face gets paralyzed or feels droopy. This is a very severe symptom, and you must contact your doctor immediately.
13. General Epigastric Discomfort
Sometimes, a heart attack also causes pain in the stomach or the upper part of the abdomen. This pain or discomfort may persist for 5-10 minutes or more.
14. Heartburn
Along with discomfort in the upper abdominal area, heartburn is also experienced in a few cases.
15. Upper Back Pain
Upper back pain is another common symptom that stems from a heart attack. This pain then spreads to the arms (more commonly to the left arm) and can even extend till the wrists and fingers.
16. General Malaise
Right from the initial phase, you will feel unwell and lethargic. This is often described as fatigue and lightheadedness, and can be accompanied by fainting. Some people also exhibit anxiety or panic attacks.
It goes without saying that if you wish to prevent a heart attack or a stroke, it is very important to take good care of your heart. Here’s how you can maintain a healthy heart:
- Maintain a healthy diet.
- Ditch junk food and snack on fruits.
- Quit smoking.
- Cut down on alcohol consumption.
- Sit less and move more.
- Eat fish at least twice or thrice a week.
- Skip the elevator and use the stairs to increase physical movement.
- Avoid sugar at all costs.
- Do breathing exercises.
- Sit quietly for some time every day.
- Substitute regular cooking oil with olive oil.
- Eat oats for breakfast.
Remember the thumb rule – making small and healthy changes in your lifestyle can make a huge difference to your health, including your heart health. If you’re suffering from any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it is best to visit a doctor right now and get things sorted.
We hope you find this information useful. If you have any doubts or queries, post them in the comments section below.
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