Sure Signs Your Heart is in "Immediate Danger"

 Five signs of a heart attack everyone should know.

By Heather Newgen 

Published on August 16, 2022 | 7:15 AM

Sure Signs Your Heart is in "Immediate Danger" — Eat This Not That

1

Why Heart Attacks are so Common

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Dr. Mitchell reminds us, "Heart attacks are a leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, about one in every five deaths is caused by cardiovascular disease; of those, almost half are due to heart attacks. So why are they so common? High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease. When blood pressure becomes too high, it strains the heart and can damage the arteries. This damage can lead to plaque formation; a substance made up of fat, cholesterol, and other materials. Plaque can narrow or block the streets, making it difficult for blood to flow through. For example, a blood clot can form and block the artery if a plaque ruptures. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Another contributing factor to heart attacks is diabetes. Diabetes damages the arteries and makes it more likely for plaque to form. However, smoking is another significant risk factor for heart disease. Cigarette smoke damages the lining of the arteries, making them more prone to plaque buildup. Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of having a heart attack. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help to lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels. Quitting smoking also reduces your risk of having a heart attack. If you have diabetes, it's essential to control your blood sugar levels. By making lifestyle changes and taking medication as prescribed by your doctor, you can help reduce your risk of having a heart attack or other cardiovascular event.

Though we all know the importance of taking care of our heart health, many do not know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. This is especially true for women, who often experience different symptoms than men.

Women and men often experience heart attacks differently. One reason is that women's arteries are usually smaller than men's, making them more susceptible to blockages. In addition, heart attacks in women are often more likely to be silent, meaning that they may not experience the same chest pain typically associated with a heart attack. This can make it more challenging to identify a heart attack in women, and as a result, they may delay seeking medical treatment. Additionally, hormonal changes during menopause can increase a woman's risk for heart disease. Therefore, it is essential for women to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and to seek medical attention immediately if they suspect that they are having one.

Regardless of your gender, it is essential to know your risk factors for diabetes and aggressively work to minimize these risks. Therefore, it is essential to know your blood pressure, blood sugars, and cholesterol, to name a few critical parameters."

2

Chest Pain or Discomfort

Dr. Mitchell explains, "When most people think of a heart attack, they think of chest pain. However, not all chest pain is a sign of a heart attack. Many heart attacks occur without any chest pain at all. So why is chest discomfort a sign of a heart attack? The answer lies in the anatomy of the heart. The heart is supplied with blood by the coronary arteries. These arteries can become blocked by a buildup of plaque, a condition known as coronary artery disease. When one of these arteries becomes blocked, it can cause chest pain. However, if the blockage is severe enough, it can cut off the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. This can damage the heart muscle and lead to a heart attack. Therefore, while chest pain is not always a sign of a heart attack, it is one of the most common symptoms.

If you are experiencing chest discomfort, it is essential to call 911 right away. Don't wait to see if the pain goes away on its own. Every minute counts when someone has a heart attack. Time is critical in getting the person to the hospital to receive treatment. Getting treated quickly can save someone's life."

3

Shortness Of Breath

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According to Dr. Mitchell, "Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is a common symptom of many health conditions. However, it can also signify a more serious problem, such as a heart attack. The heart is a muscle that requires a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood. When the heart is not receiving enough blood, it can cause the muscles to become weak and lead to shortness of breath. In some cases, this can happen suddenly and without warning; however, other symptoms often accompany shortness of breath, such as chest pain or an irregular heartbeat.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately so that you can be treated for a potentially life-threatening condition.

If you are experiencing shortness of breath due to a heart attack, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately. While it may be tempting to try to tough it out, this potentially life-threatening condition requires treatment. If you are with someone having a heart attack, call 911 and provide as much information as possible about the person's situation. In the meantime, have the person sit down, rest, and elevate their feet if possible. For example, if you are on medications that were prescribed to help with your breathing or if you are having chest pain, take them.  Remember, time is of the essence if you are experiencing shortness of breath due to a heart attack. Seek medical help immediately."

4

Nausea or Vomiting

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"When most people think of a heart attack, they think of chest pain," Dr. Mitchell reveals. "However, nausea and vomiting are common signs of a heart attack, especially in women. This is because the stomach and intestines are supplied by a branch of the coronary arteries, called the right coronary artery. If this artery becomes blocked, it can cause nausea and vomiting. In addition, the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary body functions like heart rate and digestion, is located in the same area of the brain as the centers that control emotions. As a result, a heart attack can sometimes trigger a "fight or flight" response, which can cause nausea and vomiting. If you experience these symptoms, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately, as they may signify that you are about to have a heart attack."

5

Sweating

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Dr. Mitchell says, "Sweating is one of the body's natural ways of regulating temperature. When it gets too hot, the sweat glands release a clear, odorless fluid onto the skin. This helps to cool the body by evaporation. However, sweating can also be a sign of a more severe problem. If you suddenly start to sweat excessively, it may be a sign that you are about to have a heart attack. The sudden release of adrenaline can cause the body's temperature to spike, triggering sweating. In addition, chest pain and shortness of breath are common heart attack symptoms. So if you start sweating for no apparent reason, it's essential to seek medical attention immediately."

6

Lightheadedness & Dizziness

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Dr. Mitchell tells us, "When someone experiences a sudden drop in blood pressure, it can cause lightheadedness and dizziness. This can be a sign that a heart attack is imminent. A heart attack occurs when the supply of oxygenated blood to the heart muscle is blocked. This can happen if one or more of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. If blood flow is not restored quickly, the heart muscle begins to die. The drop in blood pressure can cause lightheadedness and dizziness because the brain is not getting enough oxygen. In addition, the heart may not be pumping as efficiently, which can lead to lightheadedness and dizziness. If you experience these symptoms, it is essential to seek medical help immediately."

Dr. Mitchell says this "doesn't constitute medical advice and by no means are these answers meant to be comprehensive. Rather, it's to encourage discussions about health choices."

Heather Newgen

Heather Newgen has two decades of experience reporting and writing about health, fitness, entertainment and travel. Heather currently freelances for several publications. Read more

Sure Signs Your Heart is in "Immediate Danger" — Eat This Not That

Dangerous Heart Health Myths

How simply standing up could show you are at risk of heart attack or stroke later in life

 Scientists have looked at how the body reacts when people simply get to their feet and found it shows a lot about future health risks

By

Gwyn Wright

Elaine Blackburne

• 09:03, 18 MAR 2022
• UPDATED09:09, 18 MAR 2022

Standing up can indicate risk of heart attack (Image: iStockphoto)

A big rise in blood pressure when you stand up could mean you are at risk from a stroke or heart attack, according to scientists. Young and middle aged people whose blood pressure jumped most quickly were almost twice as likely to experience a heart attack, stroke or other major cardiovascular event later in life.

The sudden jump could become an easy test to identify who is most at risk and the discovery could mean pressure-busting medicines could start being used earlier. High blood pressure affects around a third of Brits although many do not realise it, according to the NHS website.

It affects around two in five people globally and is considered to be the world’s leading preventable cause of death. Statistics suggest people with high blood pressure, known as hypertension, in middle age are five times more likely to have brain cognitive impairment and are twice as likely to end up with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease when they get older.

Typically, systolic blood pressure falls slightly when you stand up. This sparked the researchers curiosity into whether the opposite response means people are at higher risk of cardiac arrest and stroke.

For the study, the researchers looked at records of 1,207 Italians who took part in the HARVEST study, which began in 1990. Participants were between 18 and 45 years old with untreated stage one hypertension- which is systolic pressure of between 140 and 159 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) or a diastolic pressure of 90 to 100 mmHg.

None of them had taken blood pressure-lowering medication before they took part in the study and they were all initially deemed to be at low risk of heart attack and stroke. They did not have diabetes, kidney impairment or any other cardiovascular diseases.

When they enrolled in the study, participants were an average age of 33. Most - 72 per cent - were men and they all were white.

When they enrolled, six blood pressure measurements for each participant were taken in various physical positions. This included when they were lying down and after standing up.

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The 120 participants with the highest rise (top 10 per cent) in blood pressure upon standing averaged an 11.4 mm/Hg increase and all increases in this group were greater than 6.5 mm/Hg. The remaining participants averaged a 3.8 mm/Hg fall in systolic blood pressure upon standing.

The researchers compared heart disease risk factors, laboratory measures and the occurrence of major cardiovascular events. This included heart attack, heart-related chest pain, stroke, aneurysm of the aortic artery, clogged peripheral arteries and chronic kidney disease among participants in the two groups.

In some cases, the development of atrial fibrillation, an arrhythmia that is a major risk factor for stroke, was also assessed. Results were adjusted for age, gender, parental history of heart disease, and several lifestyle factors and measurements taken during study enrolment.

During the follow up period, which averaged 17 years, 105 major cardiovascular events took place. The most common were heart attack, heart-related chest pain and stroke.

The 10 per cent of participants with the fastest rise in blood pressure were almost twice as likely as others to experience a major cardiovascular event. They did not have a higher risk from major heart scares when they were first examined, apart from their exaggerated response to standing.

People in this group were also more likely to be smokers but were no heavier or lazier than other participants. They were also no more likely to have a family history of heart problems.

In fact, their cholesterol levels were lower than for other participants and they had lower blood pressure levels when they were lying down. After adjusting for average blood pressure taken over 24 hours, a heightened blood pressure response to standing remained an independent predictor of adverse heart events or stroke.

Lead study author Professor Paolo Palatini said: “The results of the study confirmed our initial hypothesis - a pronounced increase in blood pressure from lying to standing could be prognostically important in young people with high blood pressure. We were rather surprised that even a relatively small increase in standing blood pressure was predictive of major cardiac events in the long run.

“This finding may warrant starting blood-pressure-lowering treatment including medicines earlier in patients with exaggerated blood pressure response to standing.”

In a subset of 630 participants who had stress hormones measured from 24-hour urine samples, the epinephrine/creatinine ratio was higher in the people with a rise in standing blood pressure compared to those whose standing blood pressure did not rise. Epinephrine levels are an estimate of the effect of stressful stimuli over the 24 hours.

This suggest the people who had the highest blood pressure when they stood up may have more of a fight-or-flight response to stressors, which causes a rise in blood pressure. Professor Palatini suggests the findings suggest blood pressure on standing should be measured so the right treatment can be tailored to people at higher risk.

He says people with the highest pressure may need pressure-lowering therapy and need do more to cut down on unhealthy habits. He said: “Epinephrine levels are an estimate of the global effect of stressful stimuli over the 24 hours.

“This suggests those with the highest blood pressure when standing may have an increased sympathetic response [the fight-or-flight response] to stressors. Overall, this causes an increase in average blood pressure.

“The findings suggest that blood pressure upon standing should be measured in order to tailor treatment for patients with high blood pressure, and potentially, a more aggressive approach to lifestyle changes and blood-pressure-lowering therapy may be considered for people with an elevated [hyperreactor] blood pressure response to standing.”

The findings were published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/how-simply-standing-up-could-6823414

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