Heart attack: know the symptoms
The key to surviving a heart attack is getting medical help early - nearly half of all deaths due to heart attack occur within three to four hours of the beginning of symptoms. Therefore, it's critical to be familiar with and recognize heart attack symptoms, and to take them seriously.
The key to surviving a heart attack is getting medical help early - nearly half of all deaths due to heart attack occur within three to four hours of the beginning of symptoms.
Keep in mind that not everyone experiences the same heart attack symptoms to the same degree - some older people and women can experience less obvious symptoms. Some heart attacks come on suddenly, but the vast majority start slowly with mild pain and discomfort. Many people experiencing a heart attack are not sure they are having one and may think it's only heartburn or indigestion. This may result in not seeking medical attention promptly.
Therefore, it's critical to be familiar with and recognize heart attack symptoms, and to take them seriously. The following are heart attack warning symptoms:
- pain or discomfort in the chest, shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw that does not go away with rest (in women, pain may be more vague)
- pressure, heaviness, fullness, or squeezing in the chest
- shortness of breath
- nausea and/or vomiting
- sweating, or cool and clammy skin
- anxiety
- denial
If you experience these warning symptoms, the Heart and Stroke Foundation suggests doing the following things:
- Call 9-1-1.
- Stop all activity and rest (sit or lie down).
- If you are taking nitroglycerin, take your usual dose.
- If you have chest pain and are not allergic to ASA, chew and swallow one 325 mg ASA tablet or two 81 mg tablets.
- Rest and wait for Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Acting promptly may save your life!
Putting the cuffs on hypertension
Have you been tested for high blood pressure? Your doctor may put a cuff on your arm as part of a routine check-up to test your blood pressure. Caused by blood pushing too hard against the walls of your blood vessels, high blood pressure (hypertension) can be a serious medical condition. If your levels are above normal, you might be at increased risk for heart disease and stroke.
Your doctor can test your blood pressure levels at a clinic or hospital, but you can also test your blood pressure yourself. Measuring your blood pressure at home is helpful for two reasons. First, some people get higher-than-usual blood pressure readings at the doctor's office, usually because they are a bit nervous. Second, people with hypertension need to monitor their blood pressure regularly. Blood pressure normally changes daily, rising during activity and falling during sleep. The best way to get good readings is to check yourself at the same time of day.
If you have hypertension, you should take occasional readings at different times during the day and evening. This can help you determine the effects and effectiveness of blood pressure medications. Ask your doctor how often you should monitor your blood pressure.
If you test your blood pressure at home, you have three types of home monitors to choose from:
- The manual inflation device. Wrap the cuff around your arm and use a pump to inflate it.
- The automatic inflation device. Push a button to inflate the cuff. It then deflates at the rate needed for an accurate test.
- The wrist cuff. Wrap the cuff around your wrist and push a button to inflate the cuff.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether home monitoring is a good idea for you and which type of monitor would best suit your needs.
Most home monitors give extremely accurate readings. The monitor will show systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic, the higher number, refers to the measurement taken when your heart contracts. Diastolic, the lower number, refers to when your heart expands. Most home monitors also show a reading on your heart rate or pulse (how many times a minute your heart is beating). Normal rates vary between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Many monitors have a tiny computer in them that lets you compare a reading with previous ones. Make sure you get a cuff size that fits well. If it's too small or big for your arm or wrist, it may give false readings.
Here's a list of the standards a home monitor uses for measuring blood pressure. Depending on your medical conditions, your doctor may recommend different blood pressure targets. For example, people with diabetes may need to have lower blood pressure standards than 130/85. Talk to your doctor to find out what your targets should be.
| Category |
Systolic |
Diastolic |
| Normal |
| |
below 130 |
below 85 |
| Upper end of normal |
| |
130-139 |
85-89 |
| High Blood Pressure |
| Stage 1 |
140-159 |
90-99 |
| Stage 2 |
160-179 |
100-109 |
| Stage 3 |
above 180 |
above 110 |
Stage 3 is a serious hypertensive reading. If you have a Stage 3 reading, contact your doctor immediately.
© MediResource Inc. Terms and conditions of use: The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Resources
Heart Health - Part 2
Click here
Heart Health - Part 3
Click here
Health Canada
Click here
Heart & Stroke Foundation
Click here
Healthy Heart Kit - PHAC
Click here