4 early warning signs of a heart attack

4 early warning signs of a heart attack

Throbbing chest pain. Profuse sweating. Dizziness. In this age of unlimited information, most people know the critical indicators of a heart attack. Many even know the steps to follow before a medical team arrives to comfort someone experiencing an attack. However, one can be even more proactive by detecting the initial heart attack signs and visiting the nearest healthcare center to address the situation. These are some hidden heart attack signs:

Throbbing backache
One of the earliest indicators of heart attacks is stinging pain in other body areas. So, one might experience pain in their back, arms, jaw, neck, and even feet in some cases. Other body areas other than the chest, such as one’s shoulders and abdomen, can feel pain sensations too. Essentially, this happens when the heart triggers certain nerves to provide signals to the other parts of the body regarding, say, a blocked artery in an individual. As one’s nerves are connected to the heart, brain, chest, neck, abdomen, and other parts, one will feel pain signals in these other parts.

So, if one experiences an unexplained backache, they must visit their nearest healthcare expert immediately as they may be showing one of the hidden heart attack signs.

Indigestion
The digestive system also provides warning signs for an eventual heart attack. Symptoms such as indigestion, heartburn, stomachache, and nausea can be easily ignored, but one must take them seriously. If one experiences diarrhea or other indigestion-related symptoms, it is indirectly connected to the malfunctioning of one’s heart or the circulatory system in general.

So, if a person finds it difficult to digest what they ate last night, they need to consult a doctor to know whether any underlying cardiac issues are involved.

Unexplained dizziness
The blood is the main oxygen carrier throughout the body. If an individual frequently experiences dizziness or difficulty in breathing, that means that their heart is not functioning correctly and pumping blood to all parts of the body with regular efficiency. In such cases, one may feel that they have completed a long marathon or climbed several stairs after doing simple tasks such as walking a few paces or doing a few squats.

One simply cannot ignore unexplained dizziness at any cost. However, getting a medical check-up to get to the root of the cause of breathlessness or dizziness is imperative, especially for those with a history of cardiac issues.

Snoring
Snoring is a common phenomenon. However, if one makes loud snoring noises like choking or struggling to breathe, there may be some heart issues under the surface. Sleep apnea can be a precursor to heart attacks too. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for long periods while they nap. As a result, they tend to snore in a gaspy manner during this phase.

Sleep apnea puts pressure on one’s heart and can cause other health issues apart from a heart attack.

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Coping with urges that can trigger a relapse post treatment

Addictions when left untreated can turn into crippling conditions. One can be addicted to smoking, binge drinking, or even shopping. Once addicted, one willfully submits to urges, despite having satisfied them before. However, addictions can be managed and to a great extent treated to full recovery. But, the post-recovery phase is crucial where both the mind and body are put to test and can trigger a relapse. Continue reading to know more about the most common triggers for addictions and how to deal with them.Stress Stress is commonly the root cause of many problems and addictions, both physical and psychological. One can become an addict as a way to manage the stress that may stem from strained relationships or priorities. The best way to avoid a relapse during recovery is to make lifestyle changes that don’t trigger a return to addictions amidst a stressful situation. One can practice mindfulness, engage in relaxation techniques, manage one’s time to avoid stressful situations, and imbibe healthy eating habits and exercise in their daily routine. EmotionsThere is an umpteen number of triggers that invoke a positive or negative emotional response. However, the stress associated with dealing with emotions daily can trigger urges without one even realizing. Often, one turns to a glass of alcohol or relies on prescription medications to put the mind at ease. It is not a permanent solution and prolonged use of these substances can cause more harm in the long run. One must learn and explore productive ways of controlling emotions better to avoid a relapse during recovery. For example, writing and maintaining a journal that contains one’s feelings and thoughts can act as a healthy outlet. Similarly, there are other healthy ways to channel one’s energy and manage emotional responses.Positive conditioningPeople who have addictions such as smoking or drinking may often find themselves in situations where a lit cigarette or a glass of wine can trigger a relapse. This is understandable considering these substances were the primary source of comfort and relaxation. However, with positive reinforcement and reconditioning one can train the mind and curb such urges. Relaxation doesn’t always mean techniques like yoga or meditation, it can also be pursuing your hobby. Counseling for group gatheringsBirthdays, parties, New Year’s events, and any celebration in general call for alcohol consumption and smoking. At times, these could be the very addictions one is recovering from, and in a social gathering, such temptations can be strong. However, a recovering addict should refrain from indulging in any of these as even a taste can turn into a relapse. For instance, a recovering alcoholic must avoid having a single drink as that could put him/her on a slippery slope to relapse. Here, one-on-one counseling can help prepare the mind to resist the urge. It is never healthy for a recovering addict to simply avoid socializing fearing a relapse.

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5 serious diseases that exercise can help prevent

Everybody knows that exercise is beneficial, but squeezing in a solid workout session in a jampacked daily schedule may still be challenging for many. Moreover, most people may incorrectly believe that as beneficial as daily exercise is, it does not inhibit the biggest diseases. So, the question is, can exercise avert the deadly cancers and diabetes of this world? Unsurprisingly, the answer is yes. Here are some serious diseases that exercise can prevent: Osteoporosis Bones undergo plenty of wear on a daily basis. Osteoporosis and osteopenia directly result from this and the gradual weakening of one's bones. These conditions also cause a weakening of muscles. Regular weight-bearing exercises, if done within reasonable limits after consulting with a healthcare expert, can drastically reduce the likelihood of bone mass loss prevention. Simple activities such as walking or jogging can also do the trick over a long period. Targeted strength training exercises are highly effective for this purpose as well. High blood pressure A lack of exercise is directly related to conditions such as hypertension and high blood pressure in individuals. Essentially, these conditions are related to excessive fat accumulation in the body, which mainly happens when one does not participate in regular physical activity such as workouts. Working out every day results in a higher percentage of calories burned by the body. This, in turn, results in a lesser likelihood of conditions such as high blood pressure and hypertension. Arthritis Arthritis is another movement-restricting condition in which people experience stiffness and perpetual pain in their joints. Research studies and actual experience have shown that daily workouts can dramatically reduce these issues and improve joint strength and range of movement in people with arthritis. Exercise enables the body to drastically reduce the pressure on each joint. Like blood pressure, arthritis also worsens with time for people who do not exercise or do other physical activities like yoga, stretching, tai chi, or aerobics. Diabetes Several medical research studies have shown that a reduction in body mass also reduces the possibility of developing type 2 diabetes. This means that fitness, daily physical activity, and eating right combine well to maintain normal levels of blood glucose levels in one's body. What's more, daily exercise also burns fat in and around one's heart, preventing cardiovascular complications in individuals. Type 2 diabetes and some heart diseases are the most serious diseases that exercise can prevent. Cancer Speaking of serious diseases, nothing scares people more than the possibility of developing cancers. Although exercise may not avert all types of cancer, it is helpful to reduce the risk of certain cancers, such as the ones involving one's colon, uterus, breast, lung, pancreas, and liver. Regular exercise can maintain a person's hormone, insulin, and blood sugar levels. It can also boost their immune system and keep their cholesterol in check. All these factors combined can reduce the risk of developing certain cancers.

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