Have you noticed your energy level is lower and you are more short of breath even when performing the normal activities in your daily life? Don’t ignore these feelings, or chalk them up to “getting old.” This is not a normal part of the aging process. It is your body telling you that it is struggling, maybe even with something as serious as a heart attack.
Shortness of breath and fatigue are frequently experienced by patients prior to having a heart attack. But you may not be aware just how far in advance these symptoms start to show. It’s not necessarily a matter of minutes or hours. Many people who survive a heart attack start feeling as if something is not right several weeks, or even months, prior to the episode.
If the heart cannot supply itself with enough blood due to narrowed or blocked arteries, all of your body organs will suffer. These symptoms may progress at such a slow rate that they go unrecognized over time. I’ve had many patients tell me they had been less active in the past month or two because of fatigue and shortness of breath. But they just didn’t think about it in relation to heart disease until after they had a heart attack.
Women need to be especially aware of these symptoms. We are more likely to experience fatigue and loss of breath leading up to a heart attack than men are. While chest pressure remains the most common symptom of heart disease, it is not always the most limiting.
When I question women who present to the emergency room with symptoms of heart disease, they often tell me that they have chest “pressure,” — not “pain” — when climbing stairs or carrying groceries. Even so, what they feel most limited by is their shortness of breath and exhaustion. Again, these signs can occur long before the actual episode. I’ve had female patients say they were struggling to breathe for weeks prior to having their heart attack.
Other common symptoms of angina or a heart attack include pain or pressure in the arms, jaw or upper back; nausea, vomiting or sweating (especially if associated with shortness of breath or chest discomfort). It can feel like you suddenly caught the flu. You may experience these symptoms only once during your heart attack or intermittently for weeks or months prior to your heart attack.
Smokers, of course, will have increasing problems with their breath the longer they continue to smoke. It’s no surprise that smokers have a higher risk for getting heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, a woman who smokes will have a heart attack 14 years earlier than non-smokers. Smoking is like aging yourself artificially!
The good news is that it’s never too late to start reducing your risk for heart disease. Quitting smoking at any age can go a long way toward keeping your heart healthy. Adjustments to your diet and level of physical activity can also help, even if you have had a heart attack. So if you are experiencing even mild versions of these symptoms, please see your health care provider.
Phaedra McDonough is a Nurse Practitioner with The Center for Cardiovascular Health at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. She can be reached at 802-275-3699.