The best way to stop a heart attack is to not have one. While people know that they need to eat right, watch their cholesterol, avoid stress, and exercise, busy lives often conspire to sabotage the best efforts to be healthier. Heart attacks and heart disease also run in the family, so no matter how healthy you are, knowing the early warning signs can help save your life or the life of someone you love. If you think you're having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 and get medical help. Ignoring symptoms will only make the damage worse and lower your chances of survival.
Heart Attack Signs in Men
The most common sign of an impending heart attack for men is chest pain. Sometimes described as an "elephant sitting on the chest," if you experience this type of pain, call 9-1-1 immediately. The sooner you can get professional medical help the better off you'll be. Do not drive yourself to the hospital; you'll put your life and the lives of others at risk.
Chest pain may or may not be present in every heart attack. Some people have chest pain that comes and goes. They may sweat profusely and faint. Shortness of breath for no apparent reason may also signal a heart attack. Pain in the neck, shoulder and radiating down the arm may also accompany a heart attack. Men may experience nausea as well. Cardiology specialists in Long Island, NY, can help you review your family history and understand your risk for heart disease and heart attack.
Heart Attack Signs in Women
Women typically experience heart attacks in a different way than men do. However, because men have been more thoroughly studied and in the past have experienced more heart problems, much of the education has been focused on what men go through. For women, chest pain is NOT the most common sign of a heart attack. Women more often feel nausea, experience pain in the arms (especially the left), and shortness of breath. Heart disease kills five times as many women as breast cancer and women are twice as likely to succumb to a heart attack within two weeks of the episode.
Your Individual Risk
While these signs of a heart attack are helpful for the majority of people, it is important to note that they aren't always present when someone experiences a heart attack. By visiting a center that specializes in cardiology in Long Island, New York, you can assess your risk based on factors like diet, exercise, and genetic predisposition or family history. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S. Contact Peconic Bay Medical Center and schedules an appointment to have your heart checked. Don't hesitate in finding out your risk factors. Call today.