Heart disease and heart attack are growing problems globally, which are also affecting young and younger people. Heart attack is a life-threatening condition, caused by blockage of the coronary arteries. If this condition is left untreated, the flow of blood to the heart stops and it does not get enough oxygen. This poses a risk of death.
According to the data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 32,457 people died of heart attack in the year 2022, which was much higher than the 28,413 deaths recorded last year. This risk is increasing year after year.
Health experts say, that if the signs of heart attack are identified in time and CPR is given to the patient, then the chances of saving a life increase. However, it is also worth noting here that the symptoms of many other health problems can also be similar to heart attack. Therefore, it is important to differentiate between them and identify them in time.
Symptoms of a heart attack
It is important to know the symptoms of a heart attack first.
A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart muscle is reduced or stopped. Its symptoms vary from person to person and some people may not have any symptoms at all.
Most people may experience chest pain, sharp pain in the middle or left side of the chest, pressure, squeezing, or fullness due to a heart attack. This is the most common sign. This pain can also spread to the arms, jaw, neck, back, and shoulders. Apart from this, shortness of breath and cold sweating without any reason is also a sign of a heart attack.
Similar symptoms can also occur in many other conditions, let's know about this.
The problem of a panic attack
The symptoms of panic attack are also very similar to heart attack. The biggest difference between these two is that the symptoms of panic attacks gradually subside and get cured on their own within about 20 minutes. However, the symptoms of a heart attack can worsen over time and can also lead to life-threatening risks if left untreated.
A panic attack begins suddenly during extreme stress or anxiety in which the heart rate increases significantly. Apart from this, problems like shortness of breath, sweating, and tingling in the hands are also seen.
Heartburn condition
Heartburn, angina, and heart attack may seem similar. Heartburn occurs when the acids that help in digestion for some reason go into the tube that carries food to your stomach (esophagus). In heartburn, chest pain increases when lying down or bending. Apart from this, there may be difficulty in swallowing, heaviness in the stomach, or swelling.
Heartburn condition can cause the same kind of discomfort as in a heart attack. An important difference between these two is that in a heart attack, the pain feels like pressure, tightness, or squeezing in the chest. It can spread to the left shoulder, arm and neck. Heartburn feels like a burning sensation and can reach the throat.
Broken Heart Syndrome
Broken heart syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy, occurs when a person suddenly experiences extreme stress. This can cause symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, and dizziness, which look like a heart attack.
Heart attack usually occurs due to complete or almost complete blockage of the heart artery. Whereas in broken heart syndrome, the heart arteries are not blocked. Immediate medical advice is necessary for this.
(PC: ISTOCK)
