Heart attacks in India often strike 5 to 10 years earlier than in many Western countries. Knowing the signs and acting in the first hour can save a life. Please read this and share it with your family.
Classic warning signs
- Chest pain, pressure, tightness or heaviness, lasting more than a few minutes or coming and going.
- Pain spreading to the left arm, shoulder, jaw, neck or back.
- Cold sweat, nausea or vomiting.
- Shortness of breath.
- Feeling of doom, or sudden weakness.
Signs that are easy to miss
Women, older people and people with diabetes may have “silent” or atypical signs: unusual tiredness, indigestion-like discomfort in the upper stomach, breathlessness without much chest pain, or back pain. Never dismiss these just as gas, especially if you have risk factors.
Who is at higher risk?
- People with diabetes, high BP or high cholesterol.
- Smokers and tobacco chewers.
- People with a big waist or inactive lifestyle.
- Those with a family history of early heart disease.
- Chronic stress and poor sleep.
What to do immediately
- Call 108, or ask someone to take you to the nearest hospital with emergency heart care. Do not drive yourself.
- Sit or lie down and stay calm.
- If you are not allergic and a doctor has not told you otherwise, chew a 300 mg aspirin tablet, if available, while waiting. Do not take it if you have a bleeding problem.
- Loosen tight clothes.
- If the person collapses and is not breathing, start chest compressions (CPR) if you know how, and use an AED if available.
Time is muscle
The sooner the blocked artery is opened, the more heart muscle is saved. Reaching hospital within the first hour or two matters a lot. Do not wait for the pain to pass or try home remedies.
Prevention
Control sugar, BP and cholesterol, stop tobacco, walk daily, eat sensibly, manage weight and get regular check-ups.
If you live in Gopanpally, Gowlidoddi, Nallagandla or Tellapur, or work in the Financial District or Nanakramguda, you can get your blood pressure and heart risk checked at our clinic in Gachibowli, open daily from 6 AM to 9 PM. Contact us to book.
Keep reading
Your family doctor,
Akhila Reddy
MBBS, DNB (Family Medicine) | TSMC Reg. No. APMC/FMR/74261
AMC Hospital, Gopanpally, Gachibowli, Hyderabad
This article is for general health education and does not replace a check-up. Every person is different, so please speak to your doctor before changing any medicine. In an emergency, call 108 or go to the nearest hospital.
References
- Joseph P et al. Reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease, part 1: the epidemiology and risk factors. Circ Res 2017;121(6):677-694.
- Thygesen K et al. Fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction (2018). Circulation 2018;138:e618-e651.
- World Health Organization. Cardiovascular diseases fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)