Is Lower Back Pain A Sign Of A Heart Attack – Causes & Symptoms

People who face heart attacks think that is lower back pain a sign of a heart attack. There is a connection between lower back pain and heart attack.

Certain signs of a heart attack indicate that back pain and heart attack are connected. You should know the symptoms of heart attack and serious back pain so you can differentiate.

Is Lower Back Pain A Sign Of A Heart Attack

The common symptom of a heart attack is a sharp pain in the chest and further pain in the left arm. It can happen for various reasons, but lower back pain is another reason.

Lower back pain can be a sign of underlying heart conditions. If you feel symptoms like difficulty breathing, sweating, sharp pain in the abdomen, and tiredness, you should consult a doctor.

Lower back pain is not always a sign of a heart attack. It can be due to any injury in the back muscles or herniated discs. You should check your cardiac health to know better about heart attacks.

Causes Of Heart Attack

Heart attack is becoming a leading cause of death among people. It has several causes which lead to death. These causes are the root of a heart attack. They can make your condition even worse.

The following are the common causes of heart attack in ordinary people;

– Blockage of clots: When there is a blockage of clots in blood arteries, it causes a heart attack.

– Reduced blood flow: Clot blockage reduces blood flow and affects blood circulation.

– Poor diet: Containing unhealthy diet and food increases the chance of heart attack.

– Diabetes: If you have a high sugar level for a long time can affect your heart’s health.

– Smoking: Smoking decreases the oxygen level in the body, and it can cause a serious medical condition.

– Obesity: Obesity(overweight) is caused by having more weight on the neck and around the abdomen. It puts pressure on organs.

– Damage to heart muscles: You can face a heart attack if you have any damaged heart muscles. Due to any damage, artery blood flow is affected.

– High cholesterol: High cholesterol is another cause of heart attack. In this, you have a high presence of cholesterol in your body.

– Lack of exercise: Exercising improves blood flow and circulation. Less exercise makes your body organs insensitive.

– High blood pressure: Increased blood pressure is the leading cause of heart attack. It can damage your arteries. It makes breathing difficult.

Symptoms Of Heart Attack

Heart attack symptoms can vary according to the different age groups of people. The major symptoms stay the same in every people.

When you notice these symptoms, you should consult your doctor immediately. The basic symptoms are given below;

– Nausea: Before having a heart attack, you may face nausea and vomiting.

– Cold sweat/ Extreme sweating: Excessive sweating is a heart attack symptom. You feel extreme sweating in your body due to increased pressure.

– Difficulty breathing: You feel shortness of breath due to increased pressure on your body organs and heart.

– Sharp pain in the chest: Sharp pain is the initial symptom of a heart attack. It can stay for a few minutes.

– Pain in the left arm: The chest pain extends to your left arm. It can start getting intense and constant.

– Dizziness: You may feel dizzy, and there is a chance that you may faint. It would help if you sat on a chair when feeling dizzy.

– Fatigue: You will feel tiredness and muscle fatigue. It will be due to a heart condition.

– Upper body pain: Chest pain can move to upper body parts. You can feel pain n shoulders, arms, and neck. It can get serious.

Cautionary Signs Of A Heart Attack

Everyone should know the cautionary signs of a heart attack so they can help others as well. We don’t take these signs as an underlying medical condition.

If you see the following signs, you should call emergency immediately.

1. Chest Pain:

Chest pain is an essential and common sign of a heart attack. In this condition, you’ll feel a sharp pain in the center of your chest.

This pain can last for just a few minutes. You’ll feel uncomfortable pressure on your chest. This pressure can further lead to your left arm.

2. Breathing Shortness:

Another sign is shortness of breath. You’ll feel difficulty in breathing. This can happen with or without chest pain. Some people feel this sign at first.

This is common in people who are overweight and already face some heart diseases. It can be increased by doing some physical activity.                      

3. Extreme Sweating:

During a heart attack, the initial sign includes extreme sweating. The arteries become narrow, decreasing the oxygen supply to other body parts. This causes excessive sweating.

You can feel extreme sweating and fatigue. You should stop doing any heavy activity.

4. Dizziness:

Dizziness is also a warning sign of a heart attack. Dizziness makes you feel unsteady. You may lose the balance of your body. It can get worse by walking.

When you feel dizzy, you should sit and get some medication.

5. Feeling Of Discomfort In Upper Body Parts:

The warning signs of heart attack also suffer through upper body parts. You may feel pain in your neck. The chest pain goes through both arms.

You can feel discomfort in your back and stomach. It can be alarming if this feeling lasts more than a few minutes. You should call for an emergency.

Connection Between Heart Attack And Back Pain

The big reason for heart attack is the blockage of blood-carrying arteries. It decreases the blood flow to the other parts of the body.

Due to this, you can feel enormous pressure on your chest. This pain can further extend to the back muscles.  It causes sharp pain in the back as well.

That’s why some people feel back pain before a heart attack. You may feel the stress and pressure in your upper body. This can cause pain in the neck, arms, and shoulders.

Back pain also indicates some underlying heart conditions other than a heart attack. It can be heart muscle disease, heart palpitation, or artery disease.

When To Consult A Physician

A heart attack is a very serious medical condition. It has some initial warning signs. These signs indicate a serious heart condition. It can get worse if not noticed at the right time.

Any pressure or pain in the chest is an alarming sign before a heart attack. This pain can extend to upper body parts like the neck, shoulder, and arms.

Anyone who feels these signs should consult a physician and not take them lightly. Any delay in his condition can cause death from a heart attack.

The chest pain can stay for a few minutes. It can move to the left arm as well. If it keeps getting more intense, you should call for an emergency.

Conclusion

Lower back pain and heart attack are linked in some aspects. But it is not necessary that if you feel back pain, it can be due to a heart attack.

You may feel back pain due to any injury or strained muscles in the back. Some symptoms indicate that your back pain is due to a heart attack.

Before a heart attack, the blood arteries are blocked. Due to this blockage, you feel pressure on your chest and back. In that condition, people face back pain before a heart attack.

If you follow a healthy diet and do a little exercise daily. It can improve your heart’s condition. It makes your blood vessels wide to make circulation better. It keeps oxygen levels and blood pressure normal.

Avoid smoking, eating unhealthy food, and other factors which can cause a heart attack. Try to maintain your weight. It can also lead to other diseases.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why Do We Feel Back Pain Before A Heart Attack?

Back pain before a heart attack occurs due to blocked blood arteries. They decrease the blood flow to the other body parts. It inserts pressure on back muscles and tissues.

People face stiffness in the back. It can also cause pain in the upper body, like the shoulders, neck, and arms. That’s why your back hurts before a heart attack.  

2. What Are The Initial Symptoms Of A Heart Attack?

Before having a heart attack, you might feel a few symptoms. These symptoms are the most common initial heart attack symptoms seen in people.

You’ll feel a sharp pain in your chest. It can lead to shortness of breath, dizziness, and extreme sweating. When you feel these symptoms, you should call an emergency immediately.

3. What Are The Heart Conditions That Exists With Back Pain?

Some heart conditions exist with back pain. Facing back pain can be a sign of many other heart conditions. You should not ignore these symptoms.

A few of those heart conditions are heart muscle disease, heart palpitation, artery disease, and atrial fibrillation. You should also check your heart properly if you have constant back pain.