What Are the 5 Signs of a Heart Attack?

Excessive fatigue, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and other conditions may lead to myocardial infarction. Generally, there are five warning signs of a myocardial infarction: chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting and cold sweats, hearing loss or altered consciousness, and toothache or sore throat. If necessary, it is recommended to seek timely medical attention to avoid delays in treatment. The details are as follows:

1. Chest Pain or Discomfort

Due to insufficient blood supply to the myocardium causing ischemia and hypoxia, this leads to pain. It typically presents as intense and persistent substernal pain, which may radiate to the left arm, neck, jaw, or back. It may also be accompanied by a feeling of pressure, tightness, or suffocation.

2. Shortness of Breath and Difficulty Breathing

Due to reduced cardiac function caused by inadequate blood supply to the myocardium, gas exchange in the lungs is affected, causing symptoms of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. These symptoms may be accompanied by palpitations, anxiety, and fatigue.

3. Nausea, Vomiting, and Cold Sweats

This may be related to autonomic nervous system dysfunction caused by myocardial infarction, resulting in discomfort in the digestive system. Some patients may experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and cold sweats before a myocardial infarction.

4. Hearing Loss or Altered Consciousness

This may be associated with cerebral hypoperfusion or autonomic nervous system dysfunction caused by myocardial infarction. Insufficient cerebral blood supply may lead to symptoms such as hearing loss and altered consciousness; autonomic nervous system dysfunction may affect the normal function of eye muscles, leading to eye weakness or inability to open the eyes.

5. Toothache or Sore Throat

This may be related to the distribution characteristics of cardiac nerves. When myocardial ischemia occurs, the pain may radiate to other areas connected to the cardiac nerves, causing atypical symptoms such as toothache or sore throat.

In daily life, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as balanced nutrition, moderate exercise, smoking cessation, limited alcohol consumption, and regular作息 (作息 translates as作息 patterns or sleep-wake cycles), to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction.