Heart attacks are a major cause of death and disability. Most people assume that the onset of a heart attack is accompanied by a series of symptoms such as chest pain and pain in the right arm or passing out. For the victim of the silent heart attack this is not always the case. The silent heart attack can come on with very minor or no symptoms and be just as deadly as any other heart attack. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle itself is blocked and causes part of the heart muscle to die. This in turn causes the heart to not work as effectively as the normal heart.
Recovering from a heart attack is contingent onhow quickly one reacts to the symptoms. Delay can be deadly in the event of a heart attack. By virtue of the fact that a silent heart attack comes on without the extreme symptoms a person generally expects in the event of a heart attack, immediate treatment is quite often delayed until it is too late. Symptoms of aheart attack include the following: Pain or discomfort in your arms,chest and jaw that seem to get better with rest, shortness of breath, and getting tired easily. Chest pain or discomfort is a major red flag for an oncoming heart attack, but it is not always present, especially with a truly silent heart attack.
Fast treatment is the key to surviving a heart attack. Due to the fact that the mild symptoms of the silent heart attack may be relieved with rest, they sometimes can delay treatment which in turn can be devastating. Jaw pain in a heart attack can sometimes mistaken for a tooth ache and the arm pain can be misconstrued for a pulled muscle. The chest pain can be attributed to an ulcer, heart burn or severe gas pain. This has caused people to sit at home and misdiagnose themselves and die from an otherwise treatable heart attack. Determining if you are at risk for a heart attack is a preemptive step you can take.
Those mostly at risk for a silent heart attack are people who have had a previous heart attack. Also at risk are diabetics and those over the age of sixty-five and people prone to strokes. Some medications can carry with them a risk of making a person more at risk for a silent heart attack. Always ask your doctor to explain in detail all side effects of any medication you are prescribed. Smoking and alcohol consumption can also increase the risk of heart attack as wellas being over weight and a sedentary lifestyle. It is important to bear in mind that everyone can take steps to minimize their risk of having a silent heart attack. Exercising more and talking to your doctor can only help to reduce your risk.
If you have taken stock of your risk factors and have determined that you are at risk for a silent heart attack then a plan of action should be in place in the event you ever do find yourself having a silent heart attack. Never let doubt come into play in such a serious situation. This is a common problem. People have actually delayed seeking treatment for a heart attack because they were worried about the resulting medical bills. What good is money if your dead? People have gone to chiropractors and dentists to find relief from the symptoms of a silent heart attack. Make your plans before the symptoms occur when you can think clearly and with a cool head.
