One of the main causes of death in the U.S.A is a heart attack. In 2008, heart disease caused 25% of all deaths, or 1 in every 4 people died because of this.

Talking about heart disease, the main problem is usually coronary heart disease. This is very usual for men and women. However, men suffer more. In fact, 785,000 Americans experience heart attacks the first time in a year. Moreover, 470, 000 of them had one or more of them.

Main Causes of a Heart Attack

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention claims that high cholesterol, smoking, and hypertension are the main reasons for heart attacks. Moreover, being overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle, too much alcohol, and diabetes can cause heart attacks as well.

Chances for Survival

If you want to survive a heart attack, you need to be able to notice the symptoms very early on. In fact, half of the heart attacks happen outside the hospital. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 92% of the patients felt chest discomfort, but only 27% actually realized that it was a heart attack and they called 911.

The Most Common Signs of a Heart Attack

1. Swelling

If your heart cannot pump blood, then it might cause the blood to swell. Thus, this makes your legs, ankles, and feet bloated. Moreover, you might also deal with a blue tinge in the extremities or the hips. This is known as cyanosis.

2. Shortness of breath

Your lungs and heart work together. So, if your heart goes bad, then, the lungs will not get sufficient oxygen. This will cause you to lose breath and have problems with breathing.

3. Dizziness

If the heart’s work is compromised then the blood circulation will reduce and this will lead to a lack of oxygen in the blood. This, in turn, will lead to dizziness. If so, consult with a doctor as soon as possible.

4. Coughing

If you are coughing and it is not going away for a longer time, then this can mean heart failure. This happens when there is excessive blood in the lungs due to the heart’s inability to give enough blood to the body. So, if you have whitish or pinkish mucus, it might signal blood leakage.

5. Tiredness

When your arteries close, the heart works more than usual so simple tasks can be problematic. Moreover, you might sleep longer than you usually do and you might take a couple of naps during the day.

6. Discomfort in the Chest

This is usually signaled by pinching, pressure or burning sensation. It is the most common symptom and it can happen while you are physically active or resting. So, if you feel it, consult a doctor.

Bear in mind that women can have a heart attack without experiencing chest discomfort. Otherwise, these symptoms are pretty common before experiencing a heart attack and you should watch out and consult a doctor immediately if you feel them.