Top Heart Attack Warning Symptoms in Men

Heart diseases or cardiovascular diseases, in general, are rising at an alarming rate in India. From the year 2016, reported cases have gone up approximately twice from what they were in the year 1990, the precise percentages being 28.1% and 15.2% respectively. 

Did you know, people living in urban areas of India are far more at risk of having heart diseases than people living in the rural areas of India? It’s recorded at around 400-500 cases in every 1 lakh population in the urban density, while the rural areas have only around 100 cases in every 1 lakh of the rural population in India.   

This is the result of factors like the obesity rate, the difference in lifestyle, higher stress levels, metabolic problems, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, etc. These are just some of the factors that take play while resulting in such a difference in the statistics between the urban and rural areas.  

This is due to factors like the obesity rate, the difference in lifestyle, higher stress levels, metabolic problems, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, etc. These are just some aspects that result in such a difference in these statistics. Heart diseases are the leading diseases burdening our country; here, we shed some light on these causes and the early symptoms of heart attacks. Statistically speaking men are more likely to experience sudden heart attacks than women. The recorded percentage is approx. 70% to 89% higher in men. We will be covering the topic of Heart attack symptoms in men and how to prevent heart attacks in men, via this piece. 

If you’re an Indian citizen, you must know that statistically speaking, you are more likely to be at risk of cardiovascular diseases (around 8-10 years earlier) than in any other country. This is particularly drawn from the increased heart attack cases reported in men. This could be due to the rate of consumption of tobacco increasing over the years, as it is quite clear that men in India consume a lot more tobacco than women, resulting in more genetic diabetes and heart diseases over the generations. 

We understand that these statistics and facts are quite heart-breaking, but putting this information out there in the world is how we are going to create more awareness and help fight cardiovascular diseases. Let us start by discussing some early symptoms of heart attacks seen in men to better help you avoid, fight and prepare for the same.  

Symptoms Of Heart Attacks In Men  

As underlying causes and predisposed heart conditions differ individually, the symptoms we are about to discuss may also vary. Sometimes the symptoms shown are quite clear and give a timely warning so you can consult doctors and be prepared, but sometimes, it can occur very suddenly, giving no time to counteract. These are some common signs of heart attack seen in men, to help you catch it in time: 

Chest Pain  

One of the most common attributes and symptoms linked to heart attacks is chest pain, seen commonly in both men and women. This usually starts slow, causing a mild amount of pain or discomfort. Although often, when portrayed in movies, heart attacks are shown to be too sudden, which is not always the case.  

Chest Discomfort or Pressure  

People who typically experience a heart episode claim that they tend to feel pressure on their chest, a feeling of tight squeezing and this pain is often severe. This symptom should not be ignored and mistaken for heartburn, as this feeling tends to come and go and can last for quite a few minutes. This pressure is felt on the left side or at the centre of your chest. 

Pain in Other Parts of Your Body  

More often than not, you tend to feel chest discomfort followed by pain in other parts of your body; this is typically a sign that those parts of your body aren’t getting enough amount of blood circulation as is required. Most commonly seen in areas like above your waist, your upper torso, your left arm, the area around your shoulders, and some areas on your face like the jaw, neck, and sometimes your teeth.   

Dyspnea  

Dyspnea is shortness of breath, unrelated to any underlying disease, this happens without any chest pain or sometimes and can be your only symptom of a heart attack. This is usually caused by fluid building up in your lungs leading to coughing and wheezing in some cases. 

Other Symptoms  

Some other symptoms include fatigue, inexplicable exhaustion, anxiety, nausea combined with vomiting, light-headedness, or feeling dizzy.  

However, bear in mind that sometimes a heart attack can be seen without any of these symptoms, these are usually quite sudden and most commonly seen in senior citizens.   

The more symptoms you have, the more likely it is that you’re having a heart attack. But bear in mind, you may have no symptoms at all. These are called silent heart attacks.  

How To Prevent Heart Attacks In Men?  

Here are all the points you need to know as men, to keep heart attacks at bay: 

• Controlling your blood pressure.  High blood pressure comes with an increased risk for heart diseases. You should always keep your BP in check, and ensure regular check-ups with your doctor. The recommended amount is one check-up annually for most adults. Take all the steps necessary to maintain your optimal blood pressure and make necessary lifestyle changes.   
• Regulate cholesterol levels. It is very well-known that Hearbad cholesterol is responsible for clogging your arteries and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks. There are a lot of medicines out there that can decrease your cholesterol levels, however, the key is to make diet and lifestyle changes necessary for it as well.    
• Keeping your body weight in check and staying healthy is quite important concerning heart diseases. Try to maintain healthy and recommended bodyweight levels. People who are overweight or people with morbid obesity tend to have a higher risk of getting heart attacks when compared to others.  
• Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is required for everyone, try cutting out or limiting high sodium content food, foods with added sugars, and limiting consumption of saturated fats. Fruits and vegetables are a healthy addition to your diet and regulate your vitamin intakes, thus, lowering heart risks.   
• Exercise routines in your daily life have a lot of benefits; these include better circulation to your heart while strengthening it. This helps you get in better shape while keeping you both physically and mentally fit.    
• Limiting your alcohol consumption.  Drinking liquor raises an individual’s blood pressure levels. Depending on the alcohol type, carbohydrates and calorie intake increase dramatically if you drink too often, this causes an increase in weight and cholesterol levels. It is suggested that men are not to have more than two drinks a day. 
• Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes increases blood pressure levels, thus, increasing heart attacks and stroke risks. Remember, the ones who do not have a habit of smoking are in a way better state of health than the ones that do. There are many solutions to quit smoking habits, research, and choose what suits you the best.   
• Manage your stress levels. Stress levels link to cardiovascular diseases in lots of ways. They tend to increase your blood pressure. High-stress levels have proven to trigger heart attacks in individuals. Some common ways of overcoming stress, such as overeating, increased consumption of hard drinks, and smoking, are bad for your heart health. 
• Having diabetes doubles the probability of heart attacks and other heart-related diseases. This happens since high sugar levels in your blood tend to damage the blood vessels in your body. 
• Maintain a healthy sleep schedule by getting the recommended hours of daily sleep that your body needs. As an adult, you need to sleep 7 to 9 hours every night. Not getting enough sleep increases the chances of heart attacks. If you are an adult suffering from sleep apnea or insomnia, please consult your health care provider. Make sure that you get enough sleep for better heart health.  

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