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Heart attacks are the result of your arteries being blocked, usually by fatty deposits called cholesterol. The common symptom associated with a heart attack is chest pain – a feeling of pressure, tightness, or squeezing in the center of your chest. However, chest pain is just one of many possible symptoms and responding to it could save your life.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Dr Alka Patel – GP and lifestyle doctor – described a plethora of unusual symptoms.
One symptom in particular reflects the extent to which the destructive effects of a heart attack can spread.
“Heart pain isn’t just felt in your chest – it can be felt in your teeth and jaw,” says Dr. Patel.
“This is due to the location of the vagus nerve which runs from the brain to the heart, lungs and intestines, passing through the jaw in its path.”
READ MORE: Heart attack: Heartburn could be a sign of a silent heart attack
As he pointed out, the telltale sign that your toothache is heart related is the absence of dental problems.
Another surprising symptom associated with a heart attack is a new, persistent cough.
“While a new, persistent cough has now been firmly associated with Covid, if you know you have additional risk factors that make you more likely to have a heart attack, such as your family history or your weight or if you smoke or have diabetes, and especially if you don’t have a fever, it could be a sign that your lungs are congested with fluid due to your weakened heart, ”warned Dr Patel.
In addition, your head can be attacked by a heart attack.
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Dr Patel explained, “If your heartbeat is out of sync and gives you palpitations or more beats, it could signal a change in the heart’s electrical connections due to a heart attack.
“It can also create feelings of anxiety or unease that don’t seem to change.”
Other areas of the body affected by a heart attack include:
How to respond to symptoms
“Whether or not you have symptoms of coronavirus, it is essential to dial 999 if you have symptoms that could be a heart attack, or if your heart symptoms are getting worse,” advises the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
According to the BHF, you shouldn’t be concerned if you are not completely sure if your symptoms are a heart attack, it is really important that you see a doctor as soon as possible.
Then you need to:
- Sit down and rest
- Take a 300 mg aspirin if you have one on hand
- Stay calm and wait for paramedics.
“People often dismiss the fact that they are having a heart attack and will be slow to see a doctor,” says BHF
He adds, “If you’re with someone who is showing symptoms of a heart attack but they push back or refuse to call an ambulance, it’s really important that you call one for them.”
How to prevent a heart attack
Making lifestyle changes is the most effective way to prevent a heart attack (or other heart attack).
One of the most important preventative measures is to avoid foods known to increase your risk of heart attack.
“Eating an unhealthy diet high in fat will make the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) worse and increase your risk of heart attack,” warns the NHS.
The worst offenders are foods high in saturated fat, like fatty lumps of meat butter and ghee.
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