Heart attacks are becoming increasingly common among young people. Often, the signs go unnoticed, especially when the signs aren’t linked to chest pain. Catching the signs early is crucial. Dr. Shirley Koeh, a functional medicine doctor based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has shared some crucial signs of a heart attack that go beyond chest pain. “Do you notice that there are more and more people around you who have died from a heart attack recently? Silent heart attack is getting more common these days. Sometimes a heart attack doesn’t present as the usual chest pain but some other symptoms that most people might miss,” Dr. Koeh said. Here are the five crucial signs of a silent heart attack, according to the doctor.
Nausea/Vomiting
“Heart attacks don’t always start with chest pain!” Says Dr. Koeh. It can appear as nausea and vomiting. This sign is often dismissed as indigestion or a stomach bug. However, nausea can be a crucial sign that your body is in trouble, especially when it’s paired with other symptoms.
Cold sweats
Another crucial sign you have to look out for is cold sweats. Unexplained clammy or cold sweats, especially without any particular reason such as physical exertion, is a red flag. It could be your body’s way of showing heart trouble.
Giddiness or Dizziness
Feeling lightheaded or dizzy is never a good sign. It could indicate more than exhaustion. Feeling unsteady could be a sign that there is a reduced blood flow to the brain due to a heart issue.
Shortness of breath
One common complaint people who are about to have a heart attack make is shortness of breath. Difficult breathing should never be dismissed. This symptom, in particular, is easy to mistake for something else.
Upper body pain
A heart attack doesn’t necessarily have to show up as chest pain. People often experience pain in their upper body. Signs such as discomfort in the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, or back can signal a heart attack, even without chest pain.
“Catching and identifying a heart attack will save you and your loved ones. So instead of waiting for the normal blood test for a heart attack, which will take hours to know the result, there is a test kit from the UK that can detect if you are having a heart attack as early as two to three hours after it occurs. This test requires three drops of blood and provides results with an accuracy of 99% within just 10 minutes. And the test is simple and convenient, just like a test kit. So next time, if you ever suspect a silent heart attack, head to your nearest clinic and request this test to be done,” Dr. Koeh said.
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