Symptom 2: Shortness of Breath: A Silent Red Flag
Shortness of breath, medically known as dyspnea, is another telling sign of a heart attack. This symptom manifests as a sudden, unanticipated difficulty in breathing or the feeling of being winded, even during minimal activities or at rest. Notably, the struggle to catch one’s breath might occur before any chest discomfort becomes noticeable.
The onset of dyspnea can be abrupt and unsettling. Imagine walking up a flight of stairs, a routine you’ve performed countless times, but suddenly finding yourself gasping for air halfway. Or, you’re sitting comfortably on your couch, engrossed in a book or movie, and out of the blue, you’re panting, struggling to take deep, fulfilling breaths.
This symptom happens due to a potential decrease in the heart’s efficiency in delivering oxygenated blood to the body’s tissues. When the heart’s pumping ability is hampered, perhaps due to a blocked artery, it can’t meet the body’s demand for oxygen. This discrepancy manifests as a breathlessness or a ‘hunger for air.’
Dyspnea might present itself in a number of ways. For some, it may be a feeling of being unable to draw a deep, fulfilling breath. For others, it could manifest as a sensation of tightness in the chest or an urge to gasp for air. Some might even describe it as feeling ‘smothered’ or ‘suffocated.’
Interestingly, the shortness of breath may also be accompanied by a rapid breathing rate, medically termed tachypnea. A desperate attempt by the body to increase its oxygen intake, tachypnea often makes the breathless feeling more acute and distressing. It’s these little idiosyncrasies that make each presentation of heart attack symptoms unique and worth noting. (2)
