Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms and How to Handle them!
By Dave Gluhareff
Since the middle 1990’s when I began my journey of losing 100 pounds I also began studying and researching the negative effects of a lack of exercise and poor nutrition. Daily as I became a Personal Trainer, health and fitness Writer, and Speaker I would see real life cases of heart issues related to unhealthy life choices in clients and readers and when I would be lecturing. I really began to see the effects of years of inactivity and junky food choices take their toll on these peoples’ hearts and cardiovascular system. Most importantly it became intensely clear just how straining my previous Obese lifestyle was to my own heart. My lifestyle was killing me. Many people I began training, writing too, and speaking in front of were struggling with the effects of lazy lifestyles and bad food habits just like I did. My Obesity, like theirs, caused shortness of breath, fatigue, sluggishness, sugar issues, and I’m certain my younger lifestyle caused some minimal blockages to begin forming. If I had not done anything about this bad lifestyle then I would for sure have been on medicines already for High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, Fatigue, Stress, Acid Reflux, and more illnesses related to my lack of concern for my body and its inner workings.
Many prospective middle aged clients who contact me for training and help with making positive changes to their health almost always have the above issues affecting their Heart and Cardiovascular Systems. Some have had heart attacks, some haven’t…yet. To be blunt they were killing themselves living the way they were living just like I was before the middle 1990’s. Lack of inactivity, poor nutrition, little to no rest creates a walking “Time Bomb” as we get older. Immediately I get these clients and readers moving and active. Then we focus on designing the right nutrition plan for their new active life. Their new rest and sleep schedule falls right into place once they become active and eating healthy. Many of the side effects and symptoms of the old lifestyle are reversed and cured just like when I began my healthy journey.
Well I went straight to the Cardiologist I trust, my friend Dr. Kevin Lingle, MD, FACC, FSCAI, to get his expert opinion on what a heart attack is and signs and symptoms since it affects a large majority of my clients and readers directly and in-directly. Kevin is one of my awesome hard working One-On-One clients who is also a terrific Cardiologist here in our city of Danville, Virginia. He is now my “go-to” for “Heart” questions and research I sift through for my articles for magazines and websites. He leads by example in putting his health first also like me and fits in regular exercise, proper nutrition, and plenty of rest even with his busy “Heart Doctor” schedule Lol!
(Dave Gluhareff) -Question: What is a Heart Attack really?
(Dr. Kevin Lingle) Answer:
A heart attack is when the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen. The most common cause of this is when there is an occlusion (or blockage) in a coronary artery limiting the blood flow to the area of the heart supplied by that artery.
(Dave Gluhareff) -Question: What are some signs and symptoms of a Heart Attack?
(Dr. Kevin Lingle) Answer:
Classic (textbook) symptoms include central chest pressure or heaviness associated with shortness of breath, left arm or jaw pain, nausea, and/or lightheadedness; however, other symptoms could include a sensation of “heart burn,” shoulder pain, palpitations (feeling the heart race and skip beats), or simply fatigue (or a sudden change in your energy level). The symptoms typically start with exercise and progress to rest symptoms; however, a sudden heart attack can occur at rest.
(Dave Gluhareff) -Question: If you someone feels they are having any of these signs and symptoms what should they do?
(Dr. Kevin Lingle) Answer:
Call 911 and chew 4 baby aspirin (81 mg each). If symptoms are mild and only occur with strenuous exercise call you primary doctor or us at Cardiology Consultants of Danville for an evaluation (usually within the same day).
(Dave Gluhareff) -Question: How important is living a healthy lifestyle and practicing prevention techniques?
(Dr. Kevin Lingle) Answer:
Prevention is key Dave! Also if you have been thru a Heart Attack it’s important to get back to a healthy lifestyle as soon as your Doctor gives you clearance. I’d suggest 30-45 minutes of a mix of resistance training and cardiovascular training of about 4-6 days per week with one day (7thday) completely off to heal the body. That day of rest is important to let joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles recover and get strong.
In regards to Nutrition we should all be making healthy food choices by eating lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, fruits, veggies, water, no junk foods, no processed foods, small portion sizes, and eating these small meals and snacks every two to three hours. I agree with and follow your free Nutrition Plan Dave as your client so I would recommend that. Make sure to aim for at least 6-8 hrs of sleep at night and fit in a nap when you can. All these prevention techniques will all help with getting healthy, staying healthy, and lowering Stress!
Kevin C. Lingle, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./ Phone: 1(434) 791-1088 Ext 301
Physical Address: Cardiology Consultants of Danville - 158 Executive Drive Danville, VA
About Dr. Kevin Lingle:
Kevin went to college at Duke University and attended UNC Medical School with his internal medicine residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Kevin’s cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowships were at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Kevin, his wife Kristin, and son Jack moved to Danville July 2013 where Kevin joined Cardiology Consultants of Danville, VA. His areas of specializations are in: radial artery (wrist) catheterizations and interventions (stents), coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), peripheral arterial disease, and venous disease (including treatment for varicose veins and spider veins)
Dr. Kevin Lingle and the team of cardiologists at Cardiology Consultants of Danville provide 24/7 cardiology coverage at DRMC (Danville Regional Medical Center) including emergent catheterizations and stents for acute heart attacks (**Kevin does this via the radial artery, wrist, which is safer and associated with decreased mortality compared leg approach**)
Kevin and his family are active members at Union Church in Danville, VA where Kevin is co-leader for Union's Men's ministry plus he also teaches financial peace university (Dave Ramsey) at Union Church! His wife Kristin is the art director and head of the kid’s ministry at Union Church plus a full-time Mom to their son Jack.