Did you know that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Spain? And although we tend to think that it is a problem that only affects older people, no one is completely safe from having a heart attack.
For this reason, it is very important to know your symptoms. However, both symptoms and causes of a heart attack can be very different in men and women. In the second case, they can be flu-like. Because of this, women sometimes ignore their heart attack symptoms when they first appear.
It is also highly relevant to underline that, when detected early, heart attacks can be stopped before they happenas the signs usually appear before the heart attack occurs. These are the symptoms in men and women:
- Chest pain
- Chest discomfort
- Chest pressure
- Discomfort or pain in other parts, such as one or both arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach
- Lack of oxygen, dizziness, nausea, or sweating
- Heartburn
- Pressure or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts a few minutes, or it goes back and forth.
- Lack of oxygen with or without chest discomfort.
- Cold sweats, nausea, or lightheadedness.
- As with men, the most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort.
If you think you might be having a heart attack, go to a hospital as soon as possible. Every second that passes is vitally important as far as heart attacks are concerned.
- If you are a smoker, quit smoking.
- Eat more fiber, vegetables, and fruit.
- Avoid processed foods and fried foods.
- Get exercise every day.
- Lose weight if your waist is greater than 102 cm (men) or 88 cm (women).
- Visit your doctor at least once a year to have your triglycerides and cholesterol checked.
If you have a family history of diabetes and heart disease, keep in mind that after 40 the risk of having a heart attack will increase. Make sure your doctor is aware of this and other known risk factors.