Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Learn how to spot the early warning signs of a heart attack and get the necessary treatment.
Heart disease is not just the leading cause of death around the world, but also in the U.S. While you may think every heart attack comes with chest-clutching pain, that’s not always the case.
Most people associate heart attacks with crushing chest pain and heaviness behind the sternum. However, according to cardiologist Mouin Abdallah, MD,* people can experience subtler signs.
There are generally two ways you may experience a heart attack: suddenly (more common) or gradually. For example, you may experience pressure or tightness in the chest, cold sweats, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, and pain in the arm, neck, or back.
Heart Attack Treatments
If you experience subtle signs like the ones mentioned, you may be more hesitant to go to the hospital. Because symptoms like nausea and neck pain can have other causes, you may think twice about talking to your doctor.
However, if there’s a chance you’re experiencing a heart attack, you need to act fast and early to avoid fatal consequences. Heart attacks will damage the heart muscle and lead to dying heart tissue if you don’t undergo urgent treatment.
Current treatments use medications and procedures to restore blood flow to the heart and minimize the damage. “Treating heart attacks has been one of the great inventions in the history of medicine,” says Abdallah.
Risk Factors
There are several factors that can increase the likelihood of experiencing a heart attack. For instance, obesity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, and a history of heart disease put you at a higher risk. If you currently fall into any of these categories, pay attention to the subtle signs of a heart attack.
In fact, you should know the early warning signs of a heart attack even if you’re young and healthy. If you experience them, you need to act fast and take advantage of the treatment options available before it’s too late. “When in doubt, err on the safe side and go to the ER,” says Abdallah.
The Outlook
Because heart disease is the top cause of death in the U.S. and around the world, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms. Pay attention to these more subtle signs – especially if you have a factor that increases your risk of heart attacks.
If you want to promote your heart health, try exercising regularly, eating healthily, and taking supplements like L-arginine Plus. The supplement contains l-arginine, l-citrulline, and key vitamins and minerals that boost your circulation and heart health.
Try L-arginine Plus along with exercise and a healthy diet to effectively promote your heart and overall health.
*Mouin Abdallah, MD, is the director of the Coronary Artery Disease Center at the Cleveland Clinic.