Dignity Health Bakersfield

If you are having a heart attack, which happens when parts of the heart do not receive enough blood flow, you may notice some of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain. Pain in the center or left side of the chest is one of the most common signs of a heart attack. You may feel a tightness, fullness, or squeezing sensation that can last for several minutes.

• Discomfort in the upper body. This can include pain in the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, back, and stomach.

• Shortness of breath. While this symptom usually accompanies chest pain, it can occur before the discomfort starts.

• Lightheadedness. In combination with other symptoms, feeling like you are about to pass out is a common indicator of a heart attack.

• Heart palpitations. You may begin to feel irregular or skipping heartbeats. 

Heart attack symptoms can happen on and off or continuously over a few minutes or a few hours. If you have been experiencing chest pain for several days or weeks, it is not likely related to a heart attack.

The most important thing you can do for someone experiencing a heart attack is to call 911 immediately. 

Palpitations are sensations you feel when your heart rate speeds up or when you can feel it thumping in your chest. They are common, and causes include exercise, stress, and caffeine.

Arrhythmias are disruptions in regular heart rhythm and can have more serious symptoms, such as chest pain, light headedness, and shortness of breath. For example, atrial fibrillation, also referred to as AFib, is a type of arrhythmia that can cause other heart conditions such as blood clots, stroke, and heart failure. Physicians may treat AFib with medication, recommend lifestyle changes, or diagnose and treat underlying conditions that cause irregular heartbeats.

If you believe you are experiencing arrhythmias, schedule an appointment with a Dignity Health cardiologist.

The typical resting heart rate range is 60-100 beats per minute. However, a lower heart rate indicates more efficient heart function and better health overall. A simple way to measure your heart rate is by placing your index and middle fingers on either the right side of your neck below the jawline or on your ribcage right above your heart where you can feel your pulse, count how many beats you feel in 15 seconds, and multiply that number by four.

Lifestyle changes you can make to help lower your heart rate include:

• Increasing exercise. More activity can strengthen your heart and bring down your heart rate.

• Limiting or avoiding stimulants. Caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants drive up your heart rate, and limiting or eliminating your intake of them can help you achieve a lower resting heart rate.

• Managing stress and getting rest. Stress and a lack of sleep are common contributors to higher heart rates. Finding ways to stay calm and get plenty of sleep can bring your heartbeat to a healthy pace.

In the U.S., more women die from heart disease than any other cause, including cancer, and more women than men die each year from heart disease. 

Most people associate heart problems with chest pain that radiates to the jaw or arm. However, symptoms of heart disease in women may be different and can include shortness of breath, nausea, abdominal pain or heartburn, sweating and dizziness, unusual fatigue, and neck, jaw, shoulder or upper back pain.

Known risk factors for heart disease include age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking history, diabetes and family history of heart disease. However, there are other factors unique to women such as:

• Women who have high job stress have a 40 percent increase in cardiovascular disease and an 88 percent increase in heart attack risk.

• Conditions involving chronic inflammation such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis nearly double a woman's risk for heart disease.

• Pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke later in life.

• Metabolic syndrome is a combination of fat around your abdomen, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high triglycerides. This has a greater impact on women than on men.

• Smoking is a greater risk factor for heart disease in women than in men.

• Low levels of estrogen after menopause pose a significant risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease in the smaller blood vessels.

If you find yourself experiencing these symptoms—especially if you have risk factors that match the above—talk to a cardiologist.

Small choices can make a big difference in your heart health. Lifestyle changes you can make today that can improve your health and lower your risk for cardiovascular disease include:

• Eating right and maintaining a health weight. Our physicians and cardiologists can work with you to form healthy eating habits that include the right foods to improve and maintain a healthy weight that is right for you. If you're overweight, losing even a few pounds can help relieve stress on your heart and lower your blood pressure.

• Reducing stress. High levels of cortisol from long-term stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure–all of which are common risk factors for heart disease. Learning stress management techniques such as guided meditation, deep breathing, taking a walk, and connecting with others can help reduce stress.

• Regular exercise. People who have had heart attacks may increase their chances of survival if they change their habits to include regular physical activity. Exercise can help control blood fats and blood glucose, maintain weight and lower blood pressure.

• Don't smoke. Tobacco use lowers your level of good cholesterol, raises your blood pressure and promotes clotting. 

• Control your cholesterol. Most heart disease is the result of cholesterol-rich, fatty buildup that narrows the vessels that supply blood to your heart. There are two sources of cholesterol: your body, which makes cholesterol to aid digestion, and the foods you eat. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) also known as bad cholesterol, accounts for most of the cholesterol in your blood and is considered most responsible for the formation of plaque. 

• Control high blood pressure. High blood pressure damages arteries, setting the stage for plaque formation. It also increases the stress on the heart muscle, which may cause damage to the organ.