Signs Of A Heart Attack - Am I Having A Heart Attack
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Many people asked me after my heart attack did I have any prior signs that might have warned me. Some of the people I work with around my age actually started up a fitness plan because my heart attack scared them, made them realise that the holiday they booked for Spain mext year just might not be taken for granted.
Looking back I was a heart attack waiting to happen, I was drinking really heavy and gambling online. Many a night I was downing 2 bottles of red wine, gambling to 2am in the morning and getting up at 7am. Trust me I had to work hard for that damn heart attack but did I spot any little warnings.
Warning Signs Of Heart Disease
After my heart attack, well 5 days later I was fitted with a stent, fear not the whole operation will be described in detail in a further hub, you will actually feel like you are having the operation yourself. But back to my story, I was talking to a friend ( yes I do have friends albeit just this one ) and he was telling me about why he got a stent.
I found out he never actually had a heart attack, he had been having severe jaw pain for a month and went to the Doctor who sent him to the Hospital for a treadmill test which showed he had heart problems. On further examination it was confirmed he had a small artery blockage and they brought him in and inserted a stent. In short a stent is like a bit of metal scaffold that opens the artery, I will as I say be doing a Hub on it.
Now thing is 2 months before my heart attack I had the same severe jaw and teeth pains so went to the Dentist and after a few x-rays was told my teeth were ok, So I then went to the Doctor who told me it was probably just a bad case of Neuralgia, Later of course I was to find out severe jaw pain is a major sign of heart disease. As is severe back pain so if you get either get your ass straight up to the hospital if it persists, demand to be tested.
Heartburn Or Heart Disease ?
I used to get heartburn all the time anyway mainly after a curry or drinking too much but again a month before my heart attack I was getting really bad and longer bouts of heartburn which I usually got rid off by taking an anti-acid tablet.
But one night whilst out with my daughter I took a really severe bout of heartburn and had to pull the car over. It was so bad even the tablets didn't work and I sat 45 minutes in the car in real agony. Which was worse the daughter yapping on about she was late for seeing her boyfriend or the heartburn was hard to say but again I read later that severe heartburn is a sign of heart disease.
In my next Hub I am going to cover the symptons of a heart attack but here is one just for your weekend quiz. Hands up if you know the main thing that can bring on a heart attack, Ok hands up if you said smoking, well put them back down because you are wrong. Any smartass say lack of sleep, if you did you are spot on the money. Your body and mainly your heart needs sleep to repair and play catch up. If you don't get enough sleep your risk of having a heart attack are DOUBLE that of anyone else. Yes, lack of sleep increases your risk by 50%, actually the biggest risk to your heart so bed early tonight ok.
I will as I say be back tomorrow with a more detailed list of Heart Attack Symptons but Jaw Pain ongoing or heartburn ongoing get it looked at, could save you a wooden overcoat !
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Thanks Nelle I aim to really make this a good series of Heart Related Hubs, you are now seeing the true Art, enjoy your weekend !
I have heard that pain in the left arm is a sign of a heart attack, but never jaw pain or back pain. What else are they not telling us, this side of the pond?
Jeeez well if I told you others would read and not come back tomorrow, one has to hold a bit back and build up the suspense ya know ; )
Constant jaw pain is a major biggy sign though !
Okay, okay. I'll wait.
This is great stuff-so glad you followed up with part two and glad your okay. Kimberly
That's my girl Ivorwen ; )
Thanks Kimberly I have about another 4 Hubs to add to this little series of Heart Hubs, gonna do them over the weekend. Gotta say you did a great job with that addiction thread, you are doing great on here, really proud of you girl !!
lot of useful info thanks
u know..the truth is I would never read a hub on heart attacks, but you write sooo well that I actually ended up reading this twice, just to savour your wit! keep at it...no one does it better than you! x
Thanks Lgali !
Why I thank you Myownworld, nobody does it better now that was a great song by Carly Simon you should check out below, and fear not another 4 hubs are being written this weekend x
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZBCcY0nJao
For everyone not quite ready for that "wooden overcoat" (clever choice of words!) they best pay attention. You are doing a good job of educating people.
Thanks Peggy but for being the First Aider in my work for the last 9 years I reckon I would have died. I hope my series of Heart Hubs will educate people and if it does help save someone then happy days, dying of a heart attack is so avoidable, it really is !
This is a very educative hub that I find some new information! It seems i'll enjoy reading all your future articles. Have a healthy heart my friend and be well.
I thank you my friend !
Great hub Healthtips. I went on a course for heart attacks the other day and the knowledge I gained was invaluable. Did you know the what to do changes all the time. Now they say you must chew a 300mg aspirin not put anything under the tongue. Well this is info from the British heart foundation and I know it differs all over the world. Both of us together will let everyone know the signs to check for. Glad you are living to tell the story.
Well that's something I didn't know. People talk about chest pains, and arm pains, but I've never heard of jaw pains or back ache being discussed as symptoms before. Good information.
Wow, jaw pain as a sign of heart problems! I had no idea that was a warning sign! Very good information. And sleep as a factor in heart problems scared me! I am a chronic insomniac and I hope I will get better after I am done with school--wow. That really scared me! Great info.
and please take care of yourself =D
Thanks Helen and deff look forward to your new hubs.
Amanda thats why so many people die of a heart attack, they look for the chest pains, spotting the early signs will save your life.
AIDY I need to sleep better myself instead of spending nights on here, I will take care my friend, many hugs and have a cracking weekend !
Hmmm, jaw pains huh? And your doctor did not send you for that treadmill test? Sue him! j/k. Your hubs are giving me more and more info about heart attack BC. Looking forward to the next one. Thanks.
I've always been told to not underestimate a good night's sleep and this just proves that notion, HealthTip! My brother's got a weakened ticker now because of a combination of lack of sleep, stress, as his he is workaholic and a half. All of told him to slow down up until the time he had to go to the hospital. Finally, when his doctor told him what we were all along telling him, he finally wised up! Better late than never, I guess.
Thank you again!
Thanks Emievil, have a good weekend !
Dohn just make sure you log off at a reasonable time, tis probably what put me in the hospital !
Hey Health, Great hub. I have heard that a lot of attacks just seem like heartburn. Is downing 1 bottle of red wine, gambling to 2am and then getting 8 hours of sleep ok? -Carol
Lol deff not Carol, gambling also messes with yer head. I actually beat that addiction, just need to work on the other, enjoy yer night ; )
Oh my god!!! Does that mean I had heart attack before? A year ago, I had sever jaw pain that I couldn't sleep. I went to the dentist but he said your teeth are fine.... Anyway, the pain vanished by itself and I thought that it must've been some kind of minor teeth issue! This means, no matter what your age is, you're not safe from having Heart Attack! Thanks Health Tip for this good hub.
Not all jaw pain is heart related my friend but it is one of the signs, if in doubt get to the hospital and they will tell you with no problems !
@shamelabboush, my sister recently went to the doctor because she was getting very breathless and her ankles were getting puffy. It turns out those are signs of heart failure - a blood test showed that she has already had a heart attack, and didn't even know it.
Apparently you can tell whether someone's had a heart attack from a simple blood test - if you're concerned, it might be worth going and getting it done.
You are spot on Marisa, one Saturday afterwards I had a few chest pains and was worried so went to the hospital. A quick e.c.g showed no heart attack but they followed it up with 2 blood tests. One blood test shows any heart attack within the last 24 hours and the other actually ages it back a few weeks. Science today is amazing, in all I was in the hospital 3 hours but I left in the knowledge that I hadn't had a 2nd heart attack, always be safe and make that visit, best finding out you are ok, cheers for that comment Marisa !
This was an excellent hub! I am sorry to hear about your heart attack. I am so glad you are doing well now and that we met here. You are a great person and I feel privileged to know you.
Atomswifey thanks for that, at first I was really down and to be honest it's only now coming up to the 2 years that I am getting full confidence back. And trust me young lady tis my privilege meeting you, you have taught me a few things about myself !
Hello there. You are so right. I was told that the pain in my jaw was caused by stress. If only I had known. thank you for sharing
Hi Trudy and nice to see you, deff jaw pain and heartburn are the 2 main prior oncoming signs of a heart attack, I am glad you are well.
Rut Row,...I'm freakin out now,...LOL. I don't sleep much at all,..sometimes I stay awake for 2 and 3 days at a time. Perhaps I will go back to my sleeping pills,..LOL.
Excellent advice and great info. Loved the wooden overcoat note, helped to lighten a horrific message. Glad you're on the mend. Will enjoy reading the rest in the series...keep 'um coming.
Nelle Hoxie says:
2 months ago
Excellent info. Especially about the jaw pain and lack of sleep.