Top 12 Warning Signs Of A Heart Attack You Should Never Ignore! (#4 — Who Knew?)

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You might think that cancer is the number one killer in America, but the truth is that it doesn’t even come close to heart disease. Heart disease accounts for 40 percent of all deaths in the U.S. That makes this killer more deadly than all the forms of cancer combined!

What makes heart disease so deadly? One of the main problems is that people are slow to seek help and recognize the symptoms. If you were suddenly gripped with a terrible chest pain, you would call 911, but heart attacks do not always come with such an obvious sign.

Because a heart attack is easier to stop than to recover from, you should become aware of some of its warnings signs and never ignore them. Too many people wonder if they might be having a heart attack and waste valuable, lifesaving time trying to see if it will go away or blaming their symptoms on other causes, such as muscle soreness or simple indigestion. Heart attack symptoms can vary from person to person, even between the genders, so do not wait to call 911 if you find you are experiencing any of the following 12 symptoms. This is especially true if you are over 65, or if you have other high risk factors such as being a smoker, obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, or if you have a family history of heart disease.

Keep reading and become familiar with the top 12 warnings signs of a heart attack. You might save your own life or the life of someone you love.

1. Discomfort in the Chest

This might seem obvious, and it is the classic sign of a heart attack, but keep in mind that this isn’t the only sign. Sometimes chest pain can come from other ailments that have little or nothing to do with the heart. Most heart-related chest pain is centered under the breastbone. Some say it feel as if they had a huge weight sitting on their chest, others describe it as a mild aching. Others, especially women, say that they feel a burning sensation in their chest, not so much a “pain” or “pressure”. Many people believe they have heartburn, and don’t recognize it for what it is.

2. Weakness

Many people, in the days leading up to a heart attack, often say that they feel severe, unexplained weakness. Some people have stated that they felt so weak, they couldn’t even hold a pencil. Any unexplained weakness this extreme should be checked out immediately. Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room.

3. Swelling

Most people believe that swelling of the feet or ankles has to do with standing or sitting too much, but heart failure can also cause fluid to accumulate in the body. This can cause swelling in the legs or abdomen, as well as the feet and ankles. Some people begin to retain so much fluid that that they find they suddenly gain weight (sometimes as much as 10 pounds!). When this happens, many people lose their appetite as well.

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