Two questions often pop into people’s mind when they think of heart attacks.
One: How do I avoid having one, and
Two: How do I know if I’m having one?
Dr. Harindra Wijeysundera, an interventional cardiologist at Sunnybrook, says it’s never too late to take steps to prevent a heart attack.
Lifestyle factors that can really help to keep your ticker healthy include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight with a heart-healthy diet
- Quitting smoking
- Exercising regularly
- Managing stress and control conditions that can lead to heart attack, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
What if you’ve already had a heart attack? Taking your medications can reduce your risk of a subsequent heart attack and help your damaged heart function better. Listen to your doctor, make sure you take prescribed medications and also be sure to check in with your doctor about how often you need to be monitored.
Dr. Wijeysundera cautions that the symptoms of a heart attack can vary. Not all people who have heart attacks have the same symptoms or have the same severity of symptoms. Some patients have mild pain, while others have more severe pain.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain
- Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
- Cold sweat
- Fatigue
All right, so you or a loved one is having those symptoms. What next? Dr. Wijeysundera says to act immediately. Some patients wait too long because they don’t recognize the important signs and symptoms.
Here’s what to do if a loved one exhibits the above symptoms:
- Call 911 for emergency help: If you suspect you’re having a heart attack, don’t hesitate. In Toronto, there is a coordinated system between Toronto Paramedics Services and several hospitals to ensure that if you’re having the most serious kind of heart attack, called a STEMI, you’ll get the care you need very quickly
- If you have a prescription for nitroglycerin, take it while awaiting emergency help
- Take aspirin, if your doctor or the paramedics recommend it
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Heart attack symptoms
- Pain or discomfort in: arm, back, shoulder, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach;
- Chest pain or discomfort;
- Shortness of breath.
If you are having these symptoms (or think you might be), call 911
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