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Heart attacks occur when coronary arteries are clogged , causing insufficient blood supply and, in a few minutes, can cause sudden cardiac death. However, cardiac arrests can be reversed, especially if we see them coming. Approximately half of patients with heart attack have warning symptoms before the incident . These symptoms occur gradually, over several minutes, and detecting any of them in time is essential to prevent the heart attack from causing irreparable damage.
The first minutes from the moment the symptoms occur are vital: 75% of deaths occur in the first hour from the moment we realize that something is wrong. The good news is that, if we act fast and arrive at the hospital on time, the probability of survival is 95%.
These are the main signs that can indicate the presence of a heart attack:
1. Fatigue and respiratory difficulties
Dyspnea, or difficulty breathing, appears before numerous heart attacks, particularly among women , and can begin months before we suffer a heart attack. It is usually accompanied by great fatigue . These are difficult symptoms to associate with cardiac arrest, but if we are exhausted without an apparent cause, the most intelligent thing is that we go to the emergency department.
2. Excessive sweating
Sweating more than usual , even if we are not exercising, can be a sign that our heart has a problem. The pumping of blood through clogged arteries requires that our heart make a greater effort than usual, body temperature increases due to this effort and our body sweats to try to keep it at bay. These symptoms may appear days before a heart attack : if we notice cold sweats that have no apparent cause, and cold and moist skin, we must go to the doctor without pressing it twice.
3. Indigestion, nausea and vomiting
Occasionally, cardiac arrest is preceded by digestive problems , including nausea and vomiting. These are the most difficult symptoms to associate with cardiac arrest , and the most common thing is that they have nothing to do with it, but if we have an iron stomach and have not eaten anything out of the ordinary, a sudden indigestion may indicate that Something is wrong in our hearts, and we would do well to see a doctor.
4. Chest pain
Although not all heart attacks are preceded by chest pain, this is the most frequent and most easily recognizable symptom . Chest pain is usually prolonged - lasting around 15 minutes - and is perceived as intense pressure in the chest, which can extend to the back, arms and shoulders, especially on the left side (areas that can hurt us more than the chest itself). The pain may not be continued : on numerous occasions it comes and goes, but the infarction will arrive sooner or later. Nor are all heart attacks preceded by a chest pain of equal intensity: it can hurt little and, even so, cardiac arrest is imminent. Before this symptom we must immediately notify the emergency department.
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