Warning signs of a heart attack: when to see a doctor near you
Heart attacks have become major conditions in the world today mainly owing to bad health choices and a lack of consideration of the healthy living standards prescribed by wellness professionals and expert doctors including the certified individuals at frontlineer.com. most people at risk of a heart attack don’t even get to realize it until it gets too complicated. A heart attack can be easily prevented when you visit an ER early enough so that the appropriate measures can be put in place. Now the question lingers, when should you make the trip to a doctor near you?
Dizziness and lightheadedness
These are the first and most common warning signs of a heart attack. When you find yourself losing balance, fainting for a moment or being unsteady with huge chest discomfort; it is the cue to rush to the nearest ER to have your body diagnosed for possible heart attack. In most cases, dizziness and lightheadedness come into play owing to a drop in the blood pressure due to insufficient blood flow which is a factor of an existing heart condition.
Shortness of breath
This is especially after doing something simple like climbing stairs or carrying some groceries. If you find yourself fatigued or winded after such simple tasks, especially if you have never experienced that before, it is the moment to seek emergency medical care. Extreme exhaustion and shortness of breath should not be ignored at any given time.
Cold sweats
Breaking into cold sweats for no apparent reason is a huge indicator that you may be close to experiencing a heart attack. When accompanied by other symptoms, frontlineer.com advises that cold sweats should be a worry that should take you to the nearest ER to have everything checked out.
Swelling of feet and ankles
When you find that you are having swollen feet and ankles, it means your heart is not pumping blood as it should. Swelling feet and ankles point to blood backing up in veins causing bloating which happens when the heart is incapable of pumping. It has also been identified and documented that an impending heart attack can make it harder for kidneys to remove extra water and sodium which leads to bloating.
Irregular heart beat
Heart beating irregularly more than a few times should see you take the necessary measures to have your heart checked. Atrial fibrillation is sometimes the cause but to be safe, an ER doctor is better suited to give a qualified medical opinion including the appropriate steps that need to be taken to ensure that you are able to move from the risky condition.
Chest discomfort
This can happen whether at rest or when doing something physical and can averagely last longer than a few minutes. Severe chest discomfort should see you visit an ER especially if it manifests as a feeling of congestion or suffocation accompanied by a squeezing sensation that makes it harder for you to breath normally.
Pain radiating down the left arm
Pain that spreads to the left arm is always a cause for concern since it may indicate an impending heart attack. It has been documented by frontlineer.com that pain that begins from the chest and spreads to the left arm should not be ignored and the best step is to visit an ER nearest to you for an informed diagnosis and medical opinion.
Nausea and vomiting
Though nausea and vomiting can point to varied other medical scenarios, they are also huge indicators of an impending heart attack. It is worth noting that unexplained nausea and vomiting has been reported as a sign in some patients that have suffered heart attacks. When accompanied by general malaise mainly a feeling of going down with something, nausea and vomiting should see you visit an ER doctor or facility near you for a complete diagnosis.
Discomfort akin to muscle strain
Most people are guilty of ignoring this symptom since it comes in episodes and some may overlook it as a muscle spasm. It is however very important that any discomfort akin to muscle strain happening in the upper abdomen is reported and appropriate medical care taken immediately. This is because it may be a manifestation of an impending heart attack and it is better to arrest the situation as early as possible. If the massive discomfort extends to the back or jaw, frontlineer.com reports that it is crucial you rush to the nearest ER facility.
Extreme fatigue
Patients that are about to suffer a heart attack often report extreme fatigue with an unexplained difficulty when it comes to handling everyday activities. When you can’t function normally and find it hard to handle some tasks and responsibilities that you would otherwise take care of with ease, it is time to visit a doctor near you to get an in-depth diagnosis.
