Symptoms of acute myocardial infarction occur when a blockage or blockage of a blood vessel occurs in the heart due to the appearance of fat plaques or clots, which prevent passage and cause the death of heart cells.
A heart attack can occur in anyone, regardless of age and gender, but it occurs most often in people over the age of 45, who smoke, are overweight, have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, for example.
The main symptoms that indicate this problem include
These symptoms usually appear or intensify with physical exertion, during stress, or after eating, as these are times when the heart exerts more effort and may feel more the effects of lack of circulation.
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While the symptoms mentioned are the main and most common in anyone, heart attack can also appear with certain particular characteristics in certain groups. Examples of this include:
Women may experience slightly different symptoms than men, as they may be milder, such as chest discomfort, discomfort, irregular heartbeat or heaviness in one arm. Because these symptoms are not specific, this can be confused with other situations such as poor digestion or indisposition, for example, that may delay diagnosis.
Women have a lower risk of heart attack than men, but this risk increases long after menopause, because during this period estrogen levels decrease, which is a hormone associated with the heart, as it stimulates the dilation of the vessels and facilitates blood circulation. . Therefore, as long as the symptoms are persistent and, most importantly, if they get worse after an effort, stress or food, it is very important to consult the emergency room for a medical evaluation. Learn more about heart attack symptoms in women.
The symptoms of a heart attack in young people are not very different from the main symptoms, with chest pain or tightness, tingling in the arm, nausea, cold sweats, paleness and dizziness. The peculiarity is that young people are more likely to suffer a massive heart attack, a seizure that appears suddenly and that can often lead to the death of the victim before it can be cared for by the doctor. This happens because, unlike the elderly, young people still do not have time to develop the so-called collateral circulation, responsible for the irrigation of the heart with the coronary arteries, thus reducing the impact of the lack of circulation in the heart.
Heart attack usually occurs in men over 40 years of age and women over the age of 50, as risks such as excess cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes cause damage to blood vessels, silently, for many years, and only in this case. The older group has consequences such as a heart attack and stroke.
However, some people under the age of 40 may have a heart attack, usually due to genetic changes, which cause metabolic changes in the bloodstream. This risk increases when the young person leads an unhealthy life, with obesity, smoking, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and lack of physical activity. Learn more about identifying and treating a massive heart attack.
Older people may be more likely to have a silent heart attack, because over the years, circulation can develop blood vessels that form collateral circulation, helping the coronary arteries carry blood to the heart. In this way, symptoms may be milder and persist for several days, such as excessive sweating, shortness of breath, paleness, changes in heart rate or chest discomfort, for example.
However, this is not a rule and there may be mild to severe pain, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness or tightness in the chest. Pain can also appear in the upper abdomen, which can be mistaken for gastritis or reflux.
Older people have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks and strokes, because the body has changes in blood circulation, heartbeat conduction and heart capacity, making it more conducive to the development of these complications. However, the risk is reduced if the older person has healthy lifestyle habits, such as a diet high in vegetables and low in carbohydrates and fats, controlling their weight and performing physical activities.
When the person has severe pain between the mouth and belly button that lasts more than 20 minutes and has other symptoms related to the heart attack, they should look for a hospital or call 192 to call the UAS, especially if there is a history of diabetes, high. blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol.
In addition, to help relieve pain and improve circulation, people who have never had a heart attack can take 2 aspirin tablets while waiting for the ambulance.
If it is present in a case of heart attack with loss of consciousness, it is ideal to perform a cardiac massage while waiting for the arrival of the ambulance, as this increases the chances of survival of the person. See how to do a heart massage watching this video:
See more tips in First Aid for acute myocardial infarction.