At least 170,000 people in New Zealand live with heart disease, making it one of the most common chronic conditions in the country and the leading cause of death, with 1 in 3 deaths caused by cardiovascular disease.
A New Zealander dies from heart disease every 90 minutes—a highly alarming rate for a country that’s known to live a healthy lifestyle.
Unfortunately, a heart attack can happen to anyone at any time, but here are five warning signs that you can look out for:
- Pain that spreads to the arm. Pain that radiates to the left side of the body is a classic sign of an impending heart attack. Some patients only report pain on the left arm that turns out to be a heart attack.
- Stomach pain, indigestion, or heartburn. Women are more likely to report these symptoms than men. Although an upset stomach and indigestion can be a sign of other health problems, they can also be a warning sign of a heart attack. So, if you’re at a higher risk for a heart attack and you experience stomach pain, you need to seek consultation right away to rule out the possibility of an attack.
- Chest discomfort. Chest discomfort is the most common sign of an impending heart attack. Although it’s not uncommon to experience chest pain and discomfort when tired or stressed, you need to seek consultation right away if this lasts for more than a few minutes, especially if it’s not relieved with rest. Chest discomfort due to an impending heart attack is also described as a squeezing or uncomfortable pressure on the chest area.
- Lightheadedness. Dizziness or lightheadedness alone may not instantly be a sign of an impending heart attack. But when it is accompanied by other signs, such as shortness of breath or chest discomfort, you need to notify your doctor right away because it could mean that your blood pressure has dropped due to your heart’s inability to pump blood efficiently to the whole body.
- Loud snoring. A little snoring isn’t exactly a sign of an impending heart attack. Some people even have problems with snoring alone, and that could be addressed with medication and some treatments. But if someone snores loudly (sounds like they’re gasping for air or choking), that could be a sign of an impending heart attack triggered by sleep apnea. This should prompt anyone to go to the doctor right away to rule out the possibility of a heart attack.
There’s so much that you can do to prevent an impending heart attack, and that includes taking the right medication like Cartia, which has been proven to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack in adults. It’s considered one of the top-selling, low-dose Aspirin in pharmacies all over New Zealand. But most importantly, it pays to live a healthy lifestyle that will allow you to enjoy your life for a longer time.