According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), someone dies from a cardiac event every 33 seconds1. Furthermore, one out of every five deaths is the result of heart disease. It is thus safe to say that a heart attack is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Globally, likewise, heart attacks are one of the leading causes of sudden death. This article delves into what happens when your body experiences a heart attack, how the signs differ for men and women, and what steps you can take to increase your probability of survival.
What Is A Heart Attack?
The correct medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction. It is the result of a sudden blockage in blood flow to the heart muscle2. As a result of this blockage in blood flow, the heart does not receive oxygen. This lack of oxygen causes damage to the heart tissue that can result in death.
Heart Attack Causes
The main cause of heart attacks is coronary artery disease. The coronary arteries are the two major blood vessels supplying the heart with blood. They make it possible for your heart to beat and pump blood.
Coronary artery disease results from blockages in these arteries, usually due to plaque. Plaques, or deposits containing cholesterol, can build up on the sides of your arteries. This can narrow the arteries and reduce the flow of blood into the heart. If they break open, a blood clot can occur in the heart.
Most often, a heart attack occurs because of either a partial or complete blockage of a coronary artery. A heart attack resulting from a partial blockage is called a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEM). In the case of a complete blockage, we refer to it as an acute blockage, or ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEM).
This type of heart attack classification is usually done using an electrocardiogram (ECG).
Other Heart Attack Causes
Although partial or full arterial blockage is the most common cause of a heart attack, other causes do exist as well. These include:
- Viral or other infections could damage the heart muscle.
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), i.e., a tear in the lining of a heart artery.
- Trauma resulting in damage to or ruptures in the coronary arteries.
- Coronary artery spasm, a condition associated with the squeezing of unblocked blood vessels. Also called variant angina, vasospastic angina, or Prinzmetal’s angina, the affected artery usually has cholesterol plaques or hardening of the vessel because of smoking or other factors.
- Anomalous coronary arteries, a condition one is born with, where the arteries are not in the correct position.
- Rare medical conditions associated with unusually narrow blood vessels.
- Eating disorders may cause heart damage that may later cause a heart attack.
- An obstruction, like a blood clot or air bubble arising from somewhere else in the body and migrating to one of the coronary arteries.
- A higher-than-normal heart rate over a prolonged period.
- Low blood pressure over a prolonged period is associated with lower oxygen levels in the heart for a long period, resulting in heart disease.
Stress as A Mechanism of Heart Attack
Stress could also increase your risk. Stress activates your body’s NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response. This response causes a cascade of events throughout the body. This includes a higher demand for stress hormone production in the adrenal glands.
Chronic stress could lead to changes in the body due to the NEM stress response going on for a prolonged period. This means a prolonged higher heart rate, prolonged changes in hormone production, and prolonged elevated blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglyceride levels. You may also see an increase in bad habits like overeating and sugar cravings due to elevated stress levels.
In fact, research suggests a direct link between psychological stress and heart attack risk3.
Heart Attack Symptoms
While both men and women may have similar symptoms, women often experience atypical symptoms that do not seem related to a heart attack. This means that in women, a heart attack is often initially misdiagnosed as something else.
Common Symptoms Experienced by Both Men and Women
The four most common signs of a heart attack are:
- Chest pain, which is often described as squeezing, burning, or tightening in the chest area.
- Pain in the arms, neck, jaw, or upper back.
- Shortness of breath.
- Cold sweats.
In addition, both men and women may experience the following symptoms during a cardiac infarction:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain in the left or both arms
- Excessive sweating or cold sweats
- Rapid heartbeat
Atypical Symptoms in Women
- Feelings of weakness and fatigue
- Feelings of lightheadedness, dizziness, or as if you want to faint
- Indigestion
- Sudden feelings of anxiety
Interestingly, while both men and women experience chest pain, men describe it as a crushing pain. Women, on the other hand, describe it as a feeling of added pressure or tightness in the chest area.
Risk Factors for a Heart Attack
Many things can increase your risk of developing a heart attack.
- Age – women over 55 and men over 45 have a higher risk.
- Genetics, or a family history of heart attacks. This could include a parent, grandparent, or sibling who had a heart attack at an early age.
- Diabetes, because an inability to make or correctly use insulin results in high blood sugar levels that increase your risk.
- High blood pressure, as the condition can damage arteries.
- High cholesterol levels, with high levels of bad cholesterol and low levels of good cholesterol. The bad cholesterol may form plaque that narrows the arteries.
- High triglyceride (blood fats) levels, which may increase your heart attack risk.
- A diet high in processed foods, salt, trans fats, animal fats, and sugars.
- Extreme emotional stress, like extreme anger.
- Metabolic syndrome, a condition associated with at least three of the following criteria: high blood pressure, an enlarged waist, high blood sugar levels, and low good cholesterol levels.
- A sedentary lifestyle, associated with a lack of exercise.
- Obesity, which is linked to diabetes, higher levels of bad cholesterol, and high triglyceride levels.
- Certain autoimmune conditions, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Preeclampsia, a condition associated with the development of high blood pressure while pregnant.
- Smoking.
- Illegal drugs like cocaine and amphetamines can spark a coronary artery spasm.
Immediate Heart Attack Care
If present when someone has a heart attack, the first thing you should do is call for medical assistance. You should help the person lie down in a comfortable position and try to keep them calm. Loosening any restrictive clothing may help them breathe better. If they have no contraindications or allergic reactions to aspirin, have them chew 160-325 milligrams of it. Aspirin helps prevent blood clot formation. If the person’s healthcare provider prescribed the use of nitroglycerine, assist them in taking it.
In the event the person loses consciousness, does not respond, or stops breathing, administer CPR at a rate of 30 chest compressions for every 2 rescue breaths. If you have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) available, use that. Keep this up until medical assistance arrives.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack
Unfortunately, you cannot change your family history, but you can do a lot to reduce your risk and reduce the severity if it occurs. For most people, a proactive approach is the best way of reducing the risk of a heart attack. This includes the following:
- Stop using tobacco products.
- Get enough exercise – 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day for five days a week.
- Go for a yearly check-up where your healthcare provider looks at your cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels.
- Manage your current health issues if you have any – this includes taking medications as indicated by your healthcare provider.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage your psychological stress levels. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises may help with this.
- Keep to a balanced diet that gives your body all the nutrients needed to keep it healthy. The heart needs a variety of vitamins, minerals, protein, and healthy fats to stay healthy. Nutrients that promote heart health include omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, potassium, magnesium, folate, and CoQ10. This means a diet rich in a variety of organic fruits and vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats, and whole grains.
Please note that heart medications may have side effects. Please make yourself aware of these side effects and talk to your healthcare provider about them.
You could also consider using a supplement like LipoNano CoQ. Studies indicate that Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may reduce your heart disease risk at a cellular level4. CoQ10 improves energy production and reduces oxidative stress. It is also a strong antioxidant and helps with the prevention of blood clot formation.
In Closing
Heart attacks can have different symptoms for men and women, but most often appear as chest pain, difficulty breathing, pain in the arms, neck, or jaw, and cold sweats. By taking a proactive approach, you may reduce your risk of developing a heart attack or reduce the severity if it occurs. You may thus significantly increase your survival risk.
If you would like to know more about heart attacks and how you can reduce your risk, please call our office at +1 (714) 709-8000. A dedicated staff member is standing by to take your call and provide assistance.
