You wake up in the middle of the night and suffer from angina (chest pain); Probably due to digestive problems but there is another possibility: heart attack. What do you need to know about this? The use of the term “chest pain” is ambiguous for two reasons: first, that a heart attack is not always accompanied by “pain,” and second, that it does not always occur in the “chest.” For this reason, it may be appropriate to use the scientific term angina pectoris. Of course, we are not going to teach words because this pain has caused the death of millions of people around the world. When is angina a “heart attack”? The question is, when should you worry about angina symptoms? In general, there are two categories of factors that can be used to make decisions: the details of the actual symptoms and the risk factor for heart disease. Common symptoms of angina include a feeling of “pressure, heaviness, or stiffness” in the chest. Affected people describe this feeling as “as if there is a heavy object on their chest or a strap is tightly tied around their chest.” The pain is usually in the left and lower chest areas, but can also be present in other areas. Shortness of breath Sweating, nausea and anxiety Transmission of chest pain to the left arm, neck and jaw What are the symptoms of a “heart attack”? These are the general symptoms of chest pain, and the presence of all of them is a cause for concern, in which case you should consult a doctor. But some people experience other unusual symptoms that are more common in women.
Read more: How do we know we have heart pain?
Research in the Journal of the American Medical Association addresses these unusual factors: Pain in the left side of the chest is not: Sometimes it happens that the pain is not in the left side of the body and is felt on the right, center or even above the abdomen. No pain: Some may not feel any pain and may have difficulty breathing instead. Some do not even feel the same shortness of breath. In other words, it can be said that a significant number of people do not notice a heart attack at all. Types of pain: Some people experience some kind of sharp pain, burning or even indigestion.
Relationship between duration of angina and heart attack Regardless of the feelings caused by chest pain, another issue is the timing of chest pain. If you feel pain in the chest area for only a few seconds, then there is not much to worry about. The pain of a heart attack lasts at least 5 minutes and usually lasts no longer than 20 to 30 minutes. Pain that appears after exercise and strenuous activity but goes away after a short rest can also indicate narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart. This may be the cause of a heart attack, but it is not always the case. Therefore, it is best to discuss the symptoms with your doctor. Risk factor for heart attack If we want to determine how dangerous angina is, we have to look at the risk factors. Simply put, if a 20-year-old woman feels pain in her chest, it is very different from when a 50-year-old woman smoker feels the pain. Heart attack risk factors include the following: Age – The risk of heart attack increases for men in their 40s and for women in their 50s. Of course, this does not mean that it is not possible at a younger age. Gender – Men are generally more likely than women to have a heart attack. Genetic issues – If one of your close relatives (parents or siblings) has coronary heart disease, then you are more likely to get it. This risk increases when the family member is a man under 55 or a woman under 65! Cigarettes – We often think that smoking is most harmful to the lungs, but the heart is most affected. It is best to quit smoking and do brisk activities such as brisk walking. Diabetes and hypertension are also associated with an increased risk of heart attack. High cholesterol is associated with heart attack, despite its complexity. If you have more of these risk factors, you are more likely to experience chest pain or angina. When is angina not a heart attack? The following symptoms indicate that there is no news of a heart attack: Pain that lasts for several hours: The pain of a heart attack disappears immediately after the attack or after 20 to 30 minutes. Pain that gets worse with activity: If you squeeze your chest and feel pain, then angina is related to muscles or ribs. If only one spot on your chest hurts. Pain that increases with breathing: A small pain that appears when inhaling can be associated with “pleurisy” (inflammation of the lungs).
