5 Heart Attack Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore

Knowing your heart is the best way to know yourself. Researchers have found that half of the heart attacks are silent, which means that they don’t show any symptoms. However, there are certain surprising heart attack warning signs to be watchful about, as a heart attack can happen to anyone. Below are the top early warning signs of a heart attack that shouldn’t be ignored.

1. Pain in the chest and other parts of the body

The most common warning signs of a heart attack is sudden chest pain or discomfort in the centre or left side of the chest. It usually lasts for a minute or goes away and comes back. The person might also feel fullness, squeezing, or pressure in the chest. Pain in the other parts of the body like arms, jaw, neck, back and abdomen might also be a pre-heart attack symptom.

2. Sleep Apnea

It is normal to snore while taking a nap but when a loud snorer repeatedly stops breathing for brief moments, it can lead to cardiovascular diseases. Sleep apnea is a condition where the person might experience a pause in his/her breathing for 5-30 times per hour during his sleep. This wakes up the person as he/she gasps for air. This, in turn, prevents sleep and is associated with high blood pressure and heart failure. It also disrupts the oxygen intake in the body, making it hard for the brain to control blood flow in the arteries.

3. Puffy Feet and Legs

The condition ‘oedema’ causes tissues to become swollen because of the build-up of fluid in the body. This underlying health condition can be a major symptom of a heart attack. The swollen feet could also mean that the heart is not pumping blood effectively. When the heart cannot pump blood fast enough, the blood tends to back up in the veins which cause the bloating.

4. Shortness of breath

Breathing and pumping of blood by the heart are closely related. The heart pumps blood to get oxygen to the lungs and also to circulate this. Shortness of breath is caused when the heart can’t pump enough blood and this can occur anytime while resting, lying flat on the back or during sleep. The blood backs up in the pulmonary vein, as the heart is short with the supply of blood, causing fluid to leak into the lungs. This is a sign of heart attack which shouldn’t be ignored.

5. Dizziness

Sudden dizziness, fainting or lightheadedness may be a sign of a heart issue, as the brain is short of blood supply for proper functioning. It could also mean that the blood pressure has dropped, as the heart is unable to pump enough blood. For example, if you feel dizzy during moderate or heavy physical activity, it means that the heart cannot pump enough blood when it’s needed; but this could also be a pre-heart attack symptom.   The above symptoms are more likely to be brushed off or are attributed to something else. The clues which are sent by your body shouldn’t be ignored because it is associated with increased risk of heart attack. If you notice one or any of these symptoms in yourself, or your dear ones- get your heart checked immediately. Knowing one’s heart health is the best way of knowing them. Our team of pathological technologist at Apollo Diagnostics will be able to diagnose your disease with experience and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. We also offer home collection services that will enable you to get your heart checked at your own convenience.