Having a heart attack can be an alarming and frightening event. A heart attack occurs because arteries that supply blood to the heart have become clogged, resulting in death of the muscle tissue of the heart. You are at a higher risk for having a heart attack if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, are obese or have these conditions in your family. You should be aware of the signs leading up to a heart attack, although you may feel that it can never happen to you.
Angina
Angina is a sensation of chest pain that is usually brought on by physical activity but can occur at rest. This is one of the first signs of a pending heart attack, especially if each episode of angina is getting worse than the previous one. This occurs because the arteries that supply your heart with blood are becoming clogged. When you are physically active, your heart requires more blood. However, blood cannot reach the appropriate areas of your heart due to your clogged arteries and pain is the result. Angina should not be taken lightly. Therefore, prompt medical attention is necessary if you are experiencing chest pain. If you already have heart disease and have been prescribed nitroglycerin, you should take it as directed by your doctor.
Upper Body Pain
You may experience pain in your upper body before having a heart attack. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), pain can move from your chest into your one or both of your arms, neck, back, jaw or stomach. This occurs because pain signals from nerves in the heart become crossed up in the spinal cord. The brain then senses these signals as coming from other parts of the body. The combination of chest pain and upper body pain are further signs leading up to a heart attack, although other causes are still possible.
Shortness of Breath
Trouble breathing is a common sign leading up to a heart attack. According to the AHA, this may occur with or without chest pain. Shortness of breath occurs because clogged arteries are beginning to damage heart tissue. Thus, the heart is not effectively pumping blood to the lungs or to the rest of the body. This causes oxygen levels to become low and results in trouble breathing. Call 911 immediately if you have shortness of breath for any reason.
Other Signs
Other signs leading up to a heart attack include having a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness, the AHA states. Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing any of these warning signs of a heart attack.
