“It was then that I realized I was in the throes of a heart attack,” says Nelson. “I dumped the cat and tried to get my cellphone, but fell flat on my face. Luckily I managed to reach the cellphone, spoke to a paramedic and told her I thought I was having a heart attack because of the painful sensations in my sternum and jawbone. She told me to unbolt the door and lie down flat on the floor nearby, which I did before losing consciousness.”
Says Dr Melanie Schlatter of Dubai’s Human Relations Institute: “The subtle symptoms that Nelson describes leading up to her loss of consciousness are not uncommon; generally, heart attacks are less dramatic than we think.”
“Indeed, the literature shows that pain can start in the chest or one or both arms, (the left side is more common) and then lead into the neck, back and abdomen. However, women are more likely than men to have other symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, dizziness, back/jaw pain, and shortness of breath; or feeling tired and weak in the days leading up to the heart attack. It is also well known that if any pain lasts for more than 15 minutes without easing, you should seek help as soon as possible”.
Dr Schlatter stresses the importance of taking the symptoms seriously. “Women tend to be less likely to seek help, as they may wrongly attribute it to anxiety or signs of a panic attack. Therefore, people who do commonly experience symptoms of anxiety should be extra mindful if they do have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or a history of heart disease in the family, as they need to be aware of symptoms that are inconsistent with anxiety (or indigestion type sensations) such as vomiting, and pain in the arms, back, neck, or jaw, which could in fact indicate symptoms of a heart attack.”
Concludes Nelson, who only woke up after two stents had been placed in her heart to keep her right coronary artery open, “The best thing I did was phone the paramedics. Whatever you do, don’t try and drive there or phone your doctor. Time is of the essence and oxygen is the main priority.”
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SUBTLE SYMPTOMS
Shortness of breath not necessarily accompanied by chest discomfort
Unusual fatigue, body aches or weakness
Nausea, light-headedness, vomiting, headaches, cold sweats and other flu-like symptoms
Pain in the upper body – arms, chest, shoulders, neck and back
Feeling of unexplained anxiety or unease
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10 STEPS TO A HEARTY LIFE
1. Keep your weight down; obesity is a major cause of heart disease.
2. Have your cholesterol checked.
3. Use extra virgin olive oil and garlic in cooking to lower cholesterol.
4. Limit intake of trans fats and hydrogenated oils found in margarine, fast food and fried food.
5. Limit intake of refined sugar from cakes, biscuits and sweets.
6. Eat lots of Omega 3 Fatty Acids – the best source is fish oil, which keeps cholesterol, triglycerides(fat), and C Reactive Protein levels down. Add B vitamins to stabilize homocysteine levels. Vitamins C and E and green tea keep cholesterol stable.
7. Exercise three to four times per week, for at least half an hour at a time. Start off slow and keep your routine going. Always stretch before and after training. Keep yourself hydrated and rest between sets.
8. Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
9. Limit alcohol intake to a maximum of two glasses of red wine a day.
10. Reduce stress and anxiety and conditions which increase high blood pressure.
Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright Sharon Marshall 2008.
