While a sharp pain in your chest is a clear sign that you may be having a heart attack, there are other signs that often get overlooked by New York residents and their doctors. Here are four signs of a heart attack that don’t get mentioned as much as they should.
Dizziness
If your heart is unhealthy and not pumping blood at its normal rate, this can cause less blood to flow to your brain. This lack of blood can cause intense fatigue and dizziness. If you’re experiencing lightheadedness that is persistent but seems random, it could be a sign of an incoming heart attack.
Nausea
Feeling nauseous and experiencing stomach issues such as gut pain and indigestion are also overlooked signs of an incoming heart attack. This is especially true in women and is often experienced with jaw pain. It’s important that your doctor be aware of these symptoms because negligence that leads to a fatal heart attack could be considered medical malpractice.
Shortness of breath
If you are having trouble breathing, even if it isn’t accompanied by chest pain, it could potentially be a sign of a heart attack. This also results from an abnormal flow of blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Another cause of shortness of breath could be pulmonary edema, which is when your lungs begin to fill with fluid due to congestive heart failure.
Bodily pains
Sudden pain throughout your body in places such as your arms, chest, back, legs or stomach is also a sign of an incoming heart attack. Your heart’s inability to send blood to all the different parts of your body will eventually cause parts of your body to feel uncomfortable or painful. You may also experience swelling in places such as your feet and ankles.
Heart attacks are extremely serious, so it is important that you know all the potential signs and symptoms of one. Not being able to recognize your heart attack before it’s too late could be the difference between life and death.