What are the 4 Signs of an Impending Heart Attack?
There’s no stopping the sands of time, and once a man gets past the age of 50 it becomes important to stay on top of heart health. That’s not to stay it isn’t important for women too, but heart disease and heart failure are much more common in men due to the combination of physiology and unaddressed risk factors. The problem with heart failure or having a heart attack is that even if you survive it the heart’s structural integrity may be damaged. A pacemaker may help, but it’s good to know what causes heart failure as well as medication like Farxiga which is a medication to help prevent systolic heart failure.
Unchecked diabetes and the high blood sugar levels that come with that can promote heart failure risks on its own over time, and Farxiga is a drug that is most commonly used as a Type II diabetes treatment medication. The medication’s primary function is promote the kidneys getting rid of more glucose so that blood sugar levels come down, but Farxiga can is also a drug that reduces heart failure risk. Among the types of heart failure the one where Farxiga is most commonly indicated for prevention of systolic heart failure.
This is related to HFrEF or reduced ejection fraction, and the range a healthy heart will be working in is 55 to 70%. If you drop anywhere below the borderline ejection fraction rates of 41 to 49% then heart failure becomes a very real possibility. The vigor of youth means that most people under the age of 40 won’t need to concern themselves with this if they’ve never had existing heart health concerns, but during that decade and then especially into your 50s people may be at risk of this condition and not be entirely aware of it.
This is all the more reason to be in the know about signs and symptoms of heart failure, and that’s what we’ll have a look at here along with more discussion on what causes heart failure.
The 4 Signs
There are others, but the 4 most common oncoming heart attack signs are:
- Pronounced pain or discomfort in the center of the chest that persists longer than a few minutes
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, jaw and neck. Abdominal pain may also accompany
- Breath shortness and laboring to breathe
- Unexplained sweating, nausea, or light headedness
Hospital Returns
There are many stats out there that highlight just how widespread a problem cardiac health is for people in America, and at the forefront of all of them is that almost 1 million Americans are hospitalized for heart failure each year. The percentages of them that receive successful treatments are improving as they have year over year for decades but it’s still estimated that 1 in 8 deaths are associated with heart failure.
Beyond that, a heart that is failing again is the number one reason why a patient who has been admitted to hospital needs to return to that hospital within one month of being discharged. Of all the facts around heart disease and what causes heart failure, this is the one stat that indicates both how much of a problem poor cardiac health is in America and how difficult it is to reverse failing heart health
So what causes heart failure? It can be caused by coronary artery disease, previous myocardial infarction (heart attack), hypertension (high blood pressure), abnormal heart valves (endocarditis), or heart muscle disease or congenital heart disease (heart defects present at birth).
Types of Heart Failure
As mentioned, Farxiga will be prescribed for reduced ejection fraction treatment ( aka systolic heart failure)and that’s just one of the types of heart failure. Other ones that will require a person to have extended consultations with doctor and / or cardiologist will be:
- Left-sided heart failure – the most common of types of heart failure, with signs and symptoms of heart failure here including fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, and leg swelling
- Right-sided heart failure – signs and symptoms of heart failure including fatigue, increased urination, appetite loss, nausea, weight gain, and leg swelling
- Diastolic heart failure (HFpEF preserved ejection fraction) – commonly linked to obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), and diabetes
- Biventricular heart failure – where both sides of the heart are affected equally, and with symptoms including the ones listed above for left- or right-sided heart failure but with swelling in ankles, legs, abdomen, or elsewhere around the body
- Congestive heart failure – likely the biggest risk of all of them considering it very often becomes a lifelong condition and worsens over time
- Chronic heart failure – developing over the course of multiple months or years, and often exacerbated by lifestyle and poor diet choices
- Acute heart failure – heart failure occurring suddenly and possibly related to external triggers
- Decompensated heart failure – suddenly worsening and often with the telltale symptoms of sudden swelling in ankles, legs or other lower body parts.
A heart failure prevention meal plan is something to consider and many people do find that adjusting to eating better isn’t nearly as difficult as they thought it would be.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
