What Are the Signs Leading Up To a Heart Attack?

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A heart attack can be a potentially deadly situation if the symptoms are not immediately addressed. The conditions leading up to a heart attack are called acute symptoms because they can happen suddenly. If you are experiencing the hallmark signs of a heart attack, you’ll need to contact a medical professional right away to get your condition properly diagnosed. Board-certified family physician Dr. Priti Ranjan and the team at Nest Family Medicine in Plano, TX are highly skilled in acute symptom care and want you to know the symptoms so you can be prepared in case you ever experience a heart attack.

Substantial chest pain

You may start feeling pressure in your chest before having a heart attack. The pressure can create an intense squeezing sensation in the area. Sometimes, the pressure can occur for minutes, but it may also appear on and off in waves.

Pains in various areas

You may also notice unexplained pains in various parts of your body when you have a heart attack. These pains can spread to your shoulders, back, arms, and other areas near the heart. The pain can originate from the vagus nerve that connects to the heart, sending pain signals to other tissues, like the abdomen and neck.

Dizziness

Dizziness can naturally occur for many reasons, like when you don’t drink enough water, or you try moving too fast or suddenly. But dizziness that accompanies pains can be a sign of a potential heart attack. The problem is consistent among men and women alike.

Shortness of breath

Another sign Dr. Ranjan at Nest Family Medicine in Plano, TX often notices involves shortness of breath. Your struggles to breathe can occur with or without chest pain. Women are more likely to experience this sign of a heart attack.

Sweating

Sweating is a natural physical response to exercise or stressful activities, although it could also occur during menopause. But sweating that occurs outside of these points could be a sign of a possible heart attack. Your nervous system will create a “flight or fight” response that can trigger sweating as you start having a heart attack.

Heart palpitations

Heart palpitations are also signs of a possible heart attack. Heart palpitations occur when the heart isn’t receiving the blood supply it requires. The condition entails the heart feeling an intense racing or pounding sensation. You might notice the heart skipping a beat in some cases. While the issue is not always a sign of underlying heart disease, it may be a concern that you could be at higher risk of developing complications in the area.

Contact us today for acute symptom care in Plano, TX

Acute symptom care can help you resolve many of the signs that might suggest you could experience a heart attack. Proper care and control are necessary for reducing the potential risk of a future heart attack. Ask board-certified family physician Dr. Priti Ranjan and the team at Nest Family Medicine in Plano, TX for help with your needs today. You can consult us online to schedule an appointment for services.

* All information subject to change. Images may contain models. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.