Thursday, May 28, 2009

Symptoms of a Heart Attack and How to Recognize Them

By Don Myatt

No one really knows when a heart attack will strike, as you don?t even get a warning really. You may be as fit as a fiddle, but you can still have symptoms of a heart attack and unfortunately being fit does not mean you won?t have one. There are different types and different degrees of heart attack and then there is angina pectoris. Angina has the symptoms of a heart attack, but is different. Angina Pectoris actually means constriction of the chest.

Heart attacks are caused by an obstruction of flow to the muscle of the heart. Angina is the blockage of the arteries, which does block the flow of blood, but is not actually affecting the muscle of the heart. Coronary thrombosis, is probably the most common of causes for heart attacks, this is a clot getting stuck, in the coronary artery.

The effects and the symptoms of a heart attack are all to do with the muscle or the arteries. People who?s heart muscle is weak, will probably have more lasting damage, than some one who has a clot or blocked artery. Both types are life changing, and things like diet, smoking, drinking and exercise will have to be taken into consideration after a heart attack (or before if you want to take preventative methods). People have to stick with it as well if they don?t want heart disease symptoms a second time.

As not much, if any, warning is given when having a heart attack it is good to know what to look for. After all, people who are having a heart attack may not even know themselves what it is. So here are some symptoms to look for, a persistent pain in the chest, which can go to the jaw and arms, pale skin with bluing lips and clammy skin.

The pulse of a heart attack victim, can be rapid, weak or just irregular. They may feel faint and sweat a lot, feel dizzy and faint and gasp for air. Another one of the symptoms of a heart attack that is not commonly known is that people can have a sudden feeling of impending doom, as if they are going to die and of course they might well do (although most people do actually survive heart attacks).

When someone does get a feeling of impending doom the only thing to do, is to talk to them in a calm and comforting manner. Tell them what you know about heart attacks and reassure them. Now we?ll look at other things to do, if anyone is having an attack.

The first thing to do should be the most obvious, but not everybody does it - call an ambulance, as the person having the attack, is going to need it. After that, put them in a comfortable position, this is best as a half seated position, on the floor with something against their back and supporting the shoulders. Place something under the knees, to raise them slightly and bring the hands together on the abdomen. Take the persons vital signs, level of response, check breath and pulse. The vitals should be taken at regular intervals, until the ambulance arrives.

If someone has medication on them, for their condition, let them take it or help them take it if need be. Always talk to the victim and give them reassurance, this is just as important as all the other vital stuff. So now you know how to look after a heart attack victim, until the ambulance arrives, you can maybe even save someones life.

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