Experience chest discomfort or shortness of breath? Don’t brush these symptoms off as indigestion or anxiety. You might be having a heart attack.
- Chest Pain / Discomfort – Feeling of pressure, tightness, fullness or pain at the centre or left side of the chest. This may last more than a few minutes, or may come and go over several hours.
- Upper body discomfort – Your shoulders, arms, the back, neck or jaw might hurt. Or you feel sick to your stomach. You may experience upper body pain with no chest discomfort.
- Shortness of breath – You could be panting for breath or trying to take in deep breaths. It may occur with or without chest discomfort.
Silent heart attacks may also occur without any symptoms. The symptoms may be so mild that it is often dismissed as something minor. Heart attacks can start slowly and symptoms vary from person to person, such as;
- Men are more likely to break out in cold sweat and feel pain radiating down their left arm.
- Women are more likely to have back, shoulders, jaw or neck pain, heartburn and shortness of breath, feel nausea, light-headed, sudden dizziness or unusually tired, possibly for days.
- Elderly people and people with diabetes may have no symptoms or very mild ones.
- If you smoke, QUIT. It will cut your chance of a heart attack by a third. Engage in moderate exercise of 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to keep your arteries healthy. Supplement yourself with strong anti-oxidants such as coenzyme Q10 and grape seed extract which supports good heart health.
If you suspect you are having a heart attack, get medical help immediately. Every minute matters. Learn CPR, it can save the lives of your friends, colleagues or loved ones.
If you or a loved one would like to undergo a cardiac screening, call our friendly medical concierge at +65 6679 7867 or email us at customercare@tmcg.com.sg and we will be on hand to assist you.