South Asians develop heart disease about ten years earlier than Western populations — a heart attack at 40 is not rare in Pakistan. Knowing the pattern saves lives.
Call for help immediately if chest pain is
- Pressure, tightness, or heaviness in the center of the chest ("like a weight")
- Spreading to the left arm, jaw, neck, or back
- Accompanied by sweating, nausea, or breathlessness
- Lasting more than a few minutes, or coming with exertion
- In anyone with diabetes, high BP, smoking history, or family history of early heart disease
Chew a 300mg aspirin (Disprin) if available and not allergic, and get to the nearest hospital with cardiac care — do not drive yourself, and do not wait to "see if it settles."
Pain that is usually NOT the heart
Sharp pain that changes with breathing or position, a specific tender spot, or burning behind the breastbone after meals (usually acidity/GERD). But when in doubt — especially with risk factors — treat it as cardiac until proven otherwise. An ECG and troponin test settle it quickly and cheaply.
Lower your risk starting today
Blood pressure and diabetes control, quitting smoking/naswar, 30 minutes of walking, and a lipid profile after 35 (earlier with family history).
Source: WHO — Cardiovascular diseases. This article is general guidance, not a diagnosis.