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How to recognize a heart attack before it happens

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Heart conditions are a real issue in many countries. High volumes of morbid obesity and unhealthy habits run rampant. Diet plays a huge role in heart health issues, as does often lazy mindsets.

Every year, about 720,000 Americans suffer a heart attack. This constitutes for a total of one in four deaths in the United States. That equates to roughly 5 deaths per minute!

While most heart conditions are linked to unhealthy or careless lifestyles, heart attacks can strike without a moment’s notice.

It will shock you to know, that contrary to beliefs in some quarters, people who maintain a healthy diet and weight, exercise very regularly, and stay properly hydrated are not immune from heart related problems.

Prevention is hands down the best medicine for a healthy heart, but it’s important to first understand the early warning signs of a potential heart attack.

Fatigue/Weakness

Feeling weak and a devoid of energy can say a lot about your heart health. When your arteries become more narrow, the amount of blood flow to your heart decreases. This can leave you feeling weak and may be a sign of future heart attacks, or poor circulation. If this is starting to feel like an everyday occurrence, do not ignore these symptoms.

Cold Sweats/Dizziness

Experiencing excessive dizziness and clamminess is also a trigger warning. This is commonly associated with sub par blood flow. One can pass out for seemingly no reason at all. This should raise a red flag.

Flu-Like Symptoms

Symptoms of the flu include pain in the joints and muscles, sore throat, nasal cavity congestion or discomfort, shortness of breath, severe headaches, and all around body aches and pains. A lot of people who experience a heart attack notice these symptoms during this timeframe.

Chest Pressure

This one is very blunt and straight forward. One of the most tell all symptoms of a heart attack is chest pain. Whether it’s moderate to severe pressure, or even a noticeable minor pain, do not overlook this detail. This is the most common predecessor to a heart attack, and generally means something is about to happen in regards to your heart health.

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The Differences Between Men and Women’s Symptoms

Although all of these symptoms can be present as early warning signs for either gender, there are some additional early warning signs present for women specifically.

For women, the pain attributed to the early stages of heart issues can often feel similar to indigestion. This is very dangerous because it is commonly overlooked. Pain in between the shoulder blades can be an early tell as well. Additionally chest pain may be slightly more mild, but more persistent.

Below are a few ways to combat heart attacks if you or a loved one ever experiences heart problems.

Medications

Taking prescribed heart medications will obviously help with heart issues. But it’s crucially important to make sure that any current medications are properly accounted for before you start new heart medications. Avoid this at all costs by triple checking with your doctor.

Lifestyle Factors/Bad Habits

Poor diet and a lack of exercise showcase typical American bad habits. Processed foods, sugar and television addictions, and drive-thru mentalities just scratch the surface. The good news is that anyone can break the mold of these poor lifestyle choices. Try riding your bike to work, and eating foods that are actually beneficial to your heart health. Heart healthy exercises will become your best friend.

If these symptoms are prevalent in your life, it’s definitely recommended that you see a doctor as soon as possible. Don’t let health insurance or costs associated with medical care sway you away from getting checked out. Even if you aren’t in the midst of a heart condition, it’s much better to be safe than sorry.

Credit: thespiritscience

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