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Elderly adults are at a much higher risk of having a heart attack, but whether the heart attack leads to tragedy can often depend on how quickly emergency treatment can be administered. Family caregivers for aging relatives should definitely take the time to learn more about the symptoms of a heart attack and create a plan so that they and others can react quickly.
Early Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Whether an elderly adult survives a heart attack can depend a lot on what they and their caregivers do in the first minutes and hours that symptoms appear. A heart attack describes what happens when the heart is cut off from a regular blood supply. Without oxygen from the blood, the cells within the heart are damaged and begin to die. The longer a senior goes without treatment, the more damage is done.
The most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or pressure, specifically the center or left side. Similar symptoms include pressure or discomfort in the back, neck and jaw. Shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness and sweating are other less recognized symptoms of a heart attack, especially in women. Interestingly, some heart attacks reveal very few symptoms, or they are muted and are therefore less likely to be noticed.
Helping Seniors with Early Heart Attack Warnings
Family caregivers must have a plan in place for themselves, their elderly relatives and anyone who helps care for them such as friends or elderly care providers. The first step is to identify whether the aging adult has a high risk for heart attacks. Those at the most risk are seniors with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and have already survived a stroke or heart attack.
The next step is to make everyone aware of the common symptoms as well as those that are less common. Family caregivers should encourage family members, friends and elderly care providers to act immediately even if the symptoms don’t appear to be severe. The stereotypical heart attack, intense chest pain, is usually not the best way to confirm what is happening. When elderly care providers and others suspect a heart attack is happening in the aging adult, they should call for medical attention right away. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and fast medical attention can make all the difference.
Family caregivers have a lot to think about as they manage the health and well-being of their aging loved one. Anything they can do to gain precious minutes during a heart attack may be able to prevent a scary health situation from turning tragic.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elderly Care in Lexington, SC, please talk to our caring staff. Call today (803) 223-6173.