There may be several warning signs before a heart attack.

Heart health is important to life.

Literally.

Because the heart pumps oxygen to and carbon dioxide from vital organs, the failure of this organ leads to death.

Diet, lifestyle, and genetics influence cardiovascular health.

Yes, truly it is hard to fool your own gene pool.

According to a recent AARP article titled “8 Warning Signs of a 'Silent' Heart Attack That Are Easy to Overlook,” poor cardiovascular health can trigger a heart attack.

A heart attack is often accompanied by symptoms.

Not all heart attacks are easy to predict.

Some heart attacks are considered silent.

While the America Heart Associations states about 20 percent of heart attacks are silent, the number could be higher.

When a heart attack strikes, one or more arteries becomes blocked.

When this happens, the heart cannot receive the nutrients and oxygen required to work.

Other symptoms of a heart attack, include trouble breathing, fatigue or weakness, mild pain in the chest or throat, vomiting, nausea, sweating, pain in arms or back (similar to a pulled muscle), dizziness, lightheadedness, and feelings of unease.

Silent heart attacks to do not necessarily mean there are no symptoms.

Instead, the victims do not recognize them to be symptoms of a heart attack.

Often they are mistaken for fatigue, exhaustion, muscle sprains, or indigestion.

If the symptoms are connected to a heart attack, they will not be “positional” in presentation.

What does this mean?

Stretching the muscle will not relieve the strain, and sweating and breathing problems will not alleviate with rest.

Both silent heart attacks and regular heart attacks share risk factors.

Although men ages 45 and older and women ages 55 and older have an increased risk of heart attack, health conditions are also important.

Those with excess weight, diabetes, poor exercise habits, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, tobacco use, a family history of heart disease, and a prior heart attack have higher risk.

If you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms or have a number of these risk factors, visit your doctor to run tests and to begin treatment to improve your cardiovascular health.

Reference: AARP (Aug. 4, 2021) “8 Warning Signs of a 'Silent' Heart Attack That Are Easy to Overlook”