Delay Can Be Deadly
Our body sends signals when the organs are malfunctioning. Symptoms do not always relate to the seriousness of your disease. You may have no symptoms at all and have severe heart disease, requiring prompt treatment. People often take a wait-and-see approach, delaying because they think that what they are feeling is due to something else. They are in denial, afraid to admit that their symptoms could be serious. They are embarrassed about "causing a scene," or going to the hospital and finding out it is a false alarm.
Today heart attack and stroke victims can benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients in the past. For example, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks and strokes in progress, reducing disability and saving lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after heart attack or stroke symptoms first appear.
Warning signs for the precursor of cardiovascular disease
Many people know that hypertension, diabetes mellitus and high cholesterol predispose to cardiovascular diseases but not many are aware of its symptoms. Most patients with these risk factors have no symptoms at all and they were detected incidentally during medical checkup. By the time it was detected it was too late, causing irreversible complications. Risk of death for diabetic persons is equivalent to a person who has heart attack and it can be easily diagnosed by fasting sugar level. Thirst, frequent urination, fatigue and losing weight are some of the warning signs of diabetes.
What are the warning signs of a heart disease?
The most common symptom is angina. Angina is an alarm from the heart muscle that it isn't getting enough oxygen because of reduced blood supply. Angina felt like a chest discomfort, particularly while exercising. The pain generally goes away when you stop exerting yourself. Uncomfortable pressure may occur at the upper abdomen, neck, jaw, or inside the arms.
A small group of people have a heart attack without any symptoms. A “silent heart attack” occurs more often among diabetics. During a typical heart attack, symptoms last 30 minutes or longer and are not relieved by rest. Initial symptoms can start as a mild discomfort that progress to significant pain. Chest discomfort may be associated with lightheadedness, sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, cold, sweaty skin, paleness and feeling of impending doom. Some patients experienced palpitations, a feeling of skipped heart beats, fluttering or pounding in the heart. Not all of these signs occur in every attack. Even those who have had a heart attack may not recognize their symptoms, because the next attack can feel entirely different. Most heart attack victims wait 2 hours or more before they seek medical help. This delay can result in death or permanent heart damage that can greatly reduce the ability to do everyday activities.
What are the warning signs of a stroke?
Stroke is a medical emergency. Stroke or “brain attack” is caused by blockage in the brain's arteries that completely cut off the blood supply to a portion of the brain. Different areas of the brain manifest differently. Some complained of numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and sudden, severe headache with no known cause are signs of stroke.
Conclusion
Fast action can save lives. Call your doctor if you have new symptoms or if they become more frequent or severe. Learn the signs and steps to take; you can save a life, maybe your own. Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, have it checked out. Many people experienced some of the symptoms mentioned above at some stage and disregard it as part of ageing.
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