Symptoms of Heart Attack that Seniors Might Not Recognize
Home Care in Highland Park, TX – Will Your Elderly Loved One Know if They are Having a Heart Attack?
The classic signs of a heart attack might be familiar to most from what is seen on TV and movies however, the majority of individuals commonly do not grab on to their chests before falling to the floor. There is typically a slow start to a heart attack, with discomfort or mild pain, or flu-like symptoms that are even milder. The symptoms of a heart attack can be so incredibly subtle that it is not always simple to determine exactly what is going on.
However, if someone actually is experiencing a heart attack, every second is crucial. The time between the start of the heart attack and the time the heart muscle becomes permanently damaged is a limited window. If treatment is delayed, this increases the risk of irregular heart rhythm or even sudden death.
Women: Heart Attack Symptoms
There is a common misconception that women do not have cardiovascular symptoms. However, this is their leading cause for death. The problem for caregivers is that a woman’s symptoms for heart attack differ from a man’s, therefore they tend to go unnoticed until it is too late. The symptoms most frequently reported are anxiety, indigestion, and shortness of breath, sleep disturbances, and unusual fatigue. In women, it is not common for them to experience chest pain during a heart attack.
Five Primary Signs of a Heart Attack
Elderly care providers should point out these five signs of heart attack to their companions because they may not recognize them:
- Chest pain or discomfort: most often described as a burning sensation, heaviness, or tightness.
- Parts of the body feeling discomfort: pain may not always be experienced in the chest, but rather in the stomach, neck, or jaw. Women tend to experience their pain most often in their back or jaw.
- Shortness of breath: during periods of rest, shortness of breath should be a great cause for concern; especially if this symptom comes on all of a sudden.
- Feeling of extreme fatigue or weakness: again, if this feeling comes along suddenly, senior care workers should use extreme caution.
- Clamminess, nausea, pallor, or sweating: It isn’t uncommon for these symptoms to be mistaken for the flu by seniors, as well as their elder care workers. This is especially true for women experiencing these heart attack symptoms. However, if these symptoms come on suddenly, they should not be taken lightly.
Familiarity is Everything
To give seniors to optimal chance for recovering, caregivers should become familiar with what heart attack warning signs are. This information should then be relayed to their senior care companions because they may not be aware of what could potentially be happening to them. The first point of contention is that there is no heart attack that is the same as another. Therefore, the symptoms are not going to be alike for everyone.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Highland Park, TX and the surrounding areas, contact Approved Home Care at 972-658-4001 today.
