Warning: Subtle Signalsโค Yourโ Body May Send a Month Before a Heartโ Attack
Sydney, Australia โ- A growing awareness campaign from the Heart Foundation is highlighting often-overlooked warning signs โฃthat can appear โ weeks before a heart attack, urging Australians โto pay close attention to โขtheir bodies adn seek immediate medical attention for any unusual or unexplained symptoms. While classic symptoms like chest pain โand shortness of โbreath are well-known, โexperts emphasize that many, particularly women, experience more subtle indicators in the month leading up to a cardiac event.
accordingโข to the Heart Foundation, one Australian is hospitalised with โคa heart attack every nine minutes. Recognizing the โขless obvious signals โขcould be โlife-saving.
Here โคare key signs to watch for, as identified by the Heart Foundation:
* Unsteadiness or Blurred Vision: These can indicate circulationโ issues potentially foreshadowingโ an attack.
* โข Sudden Vomiting: Unexpected vomiting can also be a sign of impaired circulation.
* Numbness: Particularly if affecting one side of the body, numbness can signal a stroke or a heart attack, both stemming from interrupted blood flow to the brain.
* Sudden โฃChange in Vision: โคExperiencing double vision, blurriness, or a sudden inability to focus in one โeye should be treated as urgent. this sensationโ has โbeen described as “a curtain falling across one eye” and is caused by blood flow disruptions forming clots or plaque buildup affecting the retina or the brain’s visual centres.
* Subtle Discomfort: Many australians experience โsubtler signsโฃ such as dizziness, nausea, jaw โor back pain, or feeling sweaty โand unwell.
* โฃ Silent โHeart Attacks: โฃSome individuals may even suffer a “silent” heart attack, exhibiting noโข obvious symptoms at all.
Experts note that warning signs can appear alone or in โcombination and often persist for โคat least 10 โฃminutes.They may develop suddenlyโ or gradually, reinforcing the importance of prompt medical evaluation for any unusual โor unexplained symptom. Reducedโ blood โฃflow to the heart can even cause signals to merge with nerve pathways for the arm, resulting inโข the sensation of numbness.
The Heart Foundation recommends proactive stepsโ to reduce risk, including:
* quitting smoking
* Regularโ exercise
*โข A heart-healthy diet
* Maintaining a healthy weight
* Reducing alcohol consumption
* โManaging โคstress
* Monitoring blood pressure andโ cholesterol
For individuals with diabetes, maintaining stable blood sugar levels โis crucial. Women should also be aware of specific riskโ factors like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy complications, early menopause, autoimmune diseases, and hormone treatments.
Theโข core message from health professionals is โclear: listen to your body. Experiencing even a single, unusual symptom warrants immediate medical attention.The earlier action is taken, the greater the chance of survival and a positive outcome.

