Whether you have a family history of heart problems or you have health conditions that could lead to a heart attack in the future, there are a few red flags that you need to know about and that you don’t want to avoid. Almost a quarter of the heart attacks that happen are silent. You don’t know anything has happened until you go to a doctor or until you have a major heart attack because of damage that has been done by one in the past.
The heart will offer a few signs months, weeks and even hours before an attack occurs. One thing that you want to watch for is swelling. Failing of the heart can cause fluid to build in areas of the body, such as the ankles or the abdomen.
Anxiety attacks are also common among those who experience a heart attack. The anxiety tends to build in the first few days before the attack occurs. Some people have pain in the chest while others don’t have any kind of pain anywhere in the body.
Pain in the arms, especially the left arm, can be a sign that there is an issue with the heart. A cold sweat, shortness of breath and any kind of discomfort in the chest should be checked as soon as possible.