Heart attack, stroke, angina and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are all related to heart disease. It helps to know a little bit about each of these conditions and the symptoms associated with these. This way if we ever face any one of these conditions we would know what is happening to us and we would know what to do next.
Heart Attack
Heart attack is a condition that arises due to insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. It is a medical emergency. Symptoms associated with heart attack include:
• Feeling pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest. These symptoms can come and go. They can range from mild to severe.
• Pain and discomfort in the neck, arms, shoulders, back, jaw or stomach.
• Unexplained shortness of breath.
• Nausea and indigestion.
• Dizziness and lightheadedness.
• Unusual fatigue.
• Abdominal discomfort.
Angina
Angina is referred to as temporary chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscles are not getting enough oxygen. Angina is described as tightness, burning, pressure or squeezing in the chest. It often starts behind the breastbone. Some people can also feel pain in arms, neck, shoulders, jaw, throat, or back. It is due to these symptoms that angina is often confused with a heart attack. However, in certain situations, angina can lead to a heart attack.
There are three types of angina- stable, unstable and variant (Prinzmetal’s). Learn the symptoms to know when you should seek help right away.
Stable angina occurs when your heart works harder than usual. If you know that you have stable angina, you would be able to predict when it is most likely to happen. The pain usually goes away with rest or by taking nitroglycerin tablets, which would have been prescribed by your doctor. The discomfort might feel like gas or indigestion. The pain might spread to arms, neck and other areas. Pain and discomfort would only last for five or less minutes.
Unstable angina cannot be predicted and often comes as a surprise. The pain or discomfort would not be relieved by resting or taking medication. This pain would be severe and can last for as long as 30 minutes. It might worsen too. You should see a doctor immediately because this can lead to a heart attack.
Pain or discomfort in variant angina is very severe. The pain usually occurs while you are resting or during the night or early morning. Variant angina is relieved by medication.
We should remember that though not all chest pain is angina or heart attack, you should always see a doctor if you have it.
Stroke
Stroke is a medical emergency. When the blood flow to the brain stops, brain cells begin to die and one would experience a brain stroke. When a stroke occurs, the following symptoms are experienced:
• Sudden feeling of numbness or weakness in the face, arms or leg (on one side of the body).
• Suddenly feeling confused and having trouble speaking or understanding speech.
• Sudden severe headache.
• Suddenly having problems in seeing, in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking. Loss of balance or coordination.
• Suddenly feeling dizzy.
PAD
PAD usually affects the legs, though sometimes it can also affect the head, arms, kidneys, and stomach. When plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to the head, organs and limbs, it results in PAD. It is an indication of a heart disease and if you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor. Symptoms of PAD include:
• Pain and numbness in legs while walking or climbing stairs.
• Sores or wounds on the legs, toes or feet that heal slowly.
• Lower temperature in one leg as compared to the other.
• Poor nail growth on the toes.
• Men who have diabetes might also develop erectile dysfunction.
• Skin turning pale or bluish.
These four conditions are quite different, yet they all tell us something about our heart condition. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately to find out the cause.