The doctor named the non-obvious symptoms of a heart attack

With the onset of summer and hot weather, the number of heart attacks increases, especially in people with cardiovascular diseases. Sergey Vechtomov, cardiologist at the SM Clinic, told Izvestia on July 21 what to do if you feel unwell in the heat and how to suspect a heart attack.

First, according to him, you need to immediately go into the cool — go into the shade, an air-conditioned room, or at least under a fan. At the same time, you should sit down or lie down with your legs raised — this will improve blood flow to the heart and brain.

Secondly, it is necessary to restore the water-salt balance. Cool, but not icy water is suitable for this, which should be drunk in small sips. Mineral water without gas or slightly salted water will help restore electrolytes. At the same time, you should not drink alcohol, coffee, energy drinks — they worsen dehydration.

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Thirdly, it is important to cool down. To do this, you can wet your face, neck, wrists, and the area under your knees. You can also apply a cold compress to your forehead or the back of your head. However, you should not immerse yourself in icy water — a sharp drop can cause vasospasm. In addition, the doctor advised to loosen the clothes: unbuckle the collar, belt, take off tight clothes.

"Be sure to measure your blood pressure and pulse. If the pressure is low (hypotension), you can lie down with your legs above your head. If the pressure is high (hypertension), take the usual medicine, but in no case lower the pressure sharply, as this is dangerous for the kidneys, heart and brain," Vechtomov added.

The doctor also explained the signs of a suspected heart attack. Among them, he named a pressing, burning pain behind the sternum, unrelated to physical exertion or emotional stress and not relieved by nitroglycerin, which can radiate to the left arm, shoulder blade, jaw or upper abdomen.

In addition, the doctor attributed to the signs of a heart attack: shortness of breath — even without movement, a feeling of lack of air; cold sweat, pallor, weakness; nausea, dizziness, vomiting (often confused with poisoning); a feeling of fear, panic ("premonition of death").

"Be sure to call an ambulance if you suspect you have a heart attack. Don't wait for the symptoms to go away. It is better to be safe and seek medical help in any case," Vechtomov emphasized.

Evgenia Bogaevskaya, a cardiologist at the UNKP-Med Medical Center, told Izvestia on June 23 about methods of preventing sudden cardiac death, which, according to the scientific Congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), takes the lives of not only the elderly, but also young people, as it is asymptomatic.