Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Do You Know Heart Attack Signs?




Ask Glen!





Q. Glen, What are the signs that you are having a heart attack?

A. We've all seen the Hollywood movie where the character clutches his or her chest in agony and drops to the ground. While this is our vision of a heart attack, the reality may be very different.

While some heart attacks are sudden and intensely painful, most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort that lasts just a few minutes. As a result, people often wait hours to seek help, a delay that can be lethal. Some new research shows that many heart-attack victims don't experience chest pain or anything like the classic "Hollywood" heart attack.

One study showed that for as many as a third of sufferers, sudden excessive sweating is the symptom most likely to send them to the doctor. One reason excessive sweating might send a person to the doctor is that it's not as easily explained away as shortness of breath, nausea, chest pain and fatigue, which can be attributed to overdoing things, a bad night's sleep, a flu bug or any number of things.

WHAT'S A HEART ATTACK?
What exactly is a heart attack? When one of the arteries that supplies blood to a portion of the heart is blocked, this can cause injury to that part of the heart muscle. Irreversible injury to the heart muscle usually occurs if medical help is not received promptly. Unfortunately, it is common for people to dismiss heart-attack symptoms. Aside from the excess sweating, some of the more common signs of a heart attack include:

  • Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain can be mild or intense. The pain may feel like a heavy weight, tightness or burning; it can be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck or jaw.

  • Paleness.

  • Anxiety, nervousness or sweaty skin.

  • Increased or irregular heartbeat.

  • Feeling of impending doom.

  • Chest discomfort, with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea and shortness of breath.

  • As with men, women's most common heart-attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

    Not all of these signs occur in every heart attack. Sometimes they may go away and come back. If some occur, it's important that you get help. Call 911. If you are near someone and they go into cardiopulmonary arrest (they aren't breathing and have no pulse), start CPR right away if you know how.

  • So heart attacks can show themselves in many ways besides chest pain. And you need to be ready to recognize the symptoms, which may include sweating or just sudden confusion. Any delay in treatment can make the consequences of a heart attack much, much worse.

    Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program. Please consult your physician !

    Wishing You A Healthy Life Style!

    Any questions?

    Ask Glen!

    1 comment:

    Anonymous said...

    Glen,

    Thanks for all of the useful information on your site. My sister Patricia passed away of heart attack last July. I am starting my New Year's resolution on getting in tune with my health by exercising and eating the right foods.

    Have a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year.
    Miss Healthy in DC

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    Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States
    Is the Founder of Fitness Builders 4 Life,the WorkOut GEM,G350,G180, G90, Eat 4 Life, Clean, Lean & Mean & Ask Glen. The mission of the Fitness Builders is to provide the community with health education and to empower people to change unhealthy lifestyles thereby increasing life expectancy. By educating the community on healthier lifestyle practices it is the intent of Fitness Builders to reduce the ravages of obesity, heart disease, cancer and other lifestyle or self inflicted diseases. Glen is also a AMA Certified Nutrition Specialist and a ACE, ACSM, NASM Certified Personal Trainer has 30+ years in Sports, Exercise Science and Nutritional Food Management, Learning and Mentoring Men and Women on a more Mental & Physical Healthy Life Style consisting of a low fat, low salt, Low carbohydrate, high protein, organic nutrition which also includes moderate exercise and mental awareness. Stay Informed, Live long and be Mentally and Physically Healthy! Any questions? Ask Glen!

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