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Signs & Symptoms Of Heart Attack
By peace | May 22, 2006
A heart attack is a medical emergency. Make no mistake about it: trying to “tough out” symptoms of a heart attack can be fatal. Emergency treatment should be sought as soon as symptoms appear. Unfortunately, half of all heart attack victims wait over two hours before seeking treatment. This delay results in widespread heart muscle damage and increases the risk of death. Prompt treatment can minimize the damage caused by a heart attack.
A heart attack is a frightening event, and you probably don’t want to think about it. But, if you learn the signs of a heart attack and what steps to take, you can save a life–maybe your own.
What are the signs of a heart attack? Many people think a heart attack is sudden and intense, like a “movie” heart attack, where a person clutches his or her chest and falls over.
The truth is that many heart attacks start slowly, as a mild pain or discomfort. If you feel such a symptom, you may not be sure what’s wrong. Your symptoms may even come and go. Even those who have had a heart attack may not recognize their symptoms, because the next attack can have entirely different ones.
Women may not think they’re at risk of having a heart attack–but they are. Women generally do not experience a heart attack in the same way as men. Unfortunately, because women don’t experience the classic symptoms, they don’t realize they are having a heart attack. Chest pain is often absent and a woman’s heart attack symptoms are more likely to be dismissed as anxiety or fatigue.
It’s vital that everyone learn the warning signs of a heart attack. These are:
1. Chest Pain / discomfort.
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
Chest pain is one of the most common heart attack symptoms. Heart attack chest pain is often described as “crushing” or “squeezing.” Chest pain is also sometimes described as a tight band wrapped around the chest. Chest pain may “radiate,” causing pain in the shoulders, arms, stomach, and jaw.
Chest pain is a symptom of angina as well as a heart attack. Angina chest pain usually lasts for a few minutes and responds well to resting and angina medications. Chest pain associated with heart attacks is not alleviated with rest, however, and may persist for longer than thirty minutes. Persistent chest pain indicates a medical emergency.
2. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath. Often comes along with chest discomfort. But it also can occur before chest discomfort.
4. Other symptoms. May include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.
Learn the signs–but also remember: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, you should still have it checked out. Fast action can save lives-maybe your own.
Heart Attack Symptoms at a Glance
anxiety
chest pain
difficulty breathing
fainting
nausea
pallor
sweating
vomiting.
Symptoms Before a heart attack
Two-thirds of heart attack victims report that they experienced symptoms days or weeks prior to the heart attack. These symptoms may include difficulty breathing, angina (chest pain), and unusual fatigue.
Atypical Symptoms
Elderly individuals, especially those with dementia, and people with diabetes may report atypical heart attack symptoms. For instance, they may report either no chest pain or only minor pain. Elderly individuals are more likely to report difficulty breathing, weakness, fatigue, or fainting, rather than chest pain.
Topics: Diseases |
March 13th, 2008 at 5:15 am
This can be an interesting type of motivator, symptoms are often signs as well.