HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS

If you are having any one of the symptoms described below that lasts for more than 5 minutes, SEEK EMERGENCY TREATMENT WITHOUT DELAY. These symptoms could be the signs of a heart attack and immediate treatment is essential. Symptoms of a heart attack include: Symptoms of a heart attack include: Angina: Chest pain or discomfort in the center of the chest; also described as a heaviness, tightness, pressure, aching, burning, numbness, fullness or squeezing feeling that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. It is sometimes mistakenly thought to be indigestion or heartburn. Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body including the arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or stomach Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath Sweating or “cold sweat” Fullness, indigestion, or choking feeling (may feel like “heartburn”) Nausea or vomiting Light-headedness, dizziness Extreme weakness or anxiety Rapid or irregular heart beats Women often have different symptoms of a heart attack than men and may report symptoms before having a heart attack, although the symptoms are not typical “heart” symptoms. In a multi-center study of 515 women who had an acute heart attack (MI), the most frequently reported symptoms were unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, indigestion and anxiety. The majority of women (78 percent) reported at least one symptom for more than one month before their heart attack. Only 30 percent reported chest discomfort, which was described as an aching, tightness, pressure, sharpness, burning, fullness or tingling. Silent MI: Some people have a heart attack without having any symptoms (a “silent” myocardial infarction). A silent MI can occur among all patients, though it is more common among people with diabetes. A silent MI may be diagnosed during a routine doctor’s exam. If you have been prescribed nitroglycerin and you experience angina, stop what you are doing and rest. Take one nitroglycerin tablet and let it dissolve under your tongue, or if using the spray form, spray it under your tongue. Wait 5 minutes. If you still have angina after 5 minutes, call 9-1-1 to get emergency help. DO NOT DELAY. Emergency personnel may tell you to chew an aspirin to break up a possible blood clot, if there is no medical reason for you to avoid aspirin. After you have called 9-1-1, continue to take your nitroglycerin as prescribed. The first symptoms start the clock At the first signs of a heart attack, call for emergency treatmen.Do not wait for your symptoms to “go away.” Early recognition and treatment of heart attack symptoms can reduce the risk of heart damage and allow treatment to be started immediately. Even if you’re not sure your symptoms are those of a heart attack, you should still be evaluated. Do not delay The best time to treat a heart attack is within one hour of the onset of the first symptoms. When a heart attack occurs, there’s a limited amount of time before significant and long-lasting damage occurs to the heart muscle. If a large area of the heart is injured during the heart attack, full recovery becomes much more difficult. Studies show that the people who have symptoms of a heart attack often delay, or wait to seek treatment, for longer than seven hours. People who delay tend to be older, female, African-American and to have a history of angina, high blood pressure or diabetes. People who delay also consult their family members or try to treat themselves first before seeking treatment. Reasons people delay: They are young and cannot believe it is happening to them Symptoms are not what they expected They may deny the symptoms are serious and wait until they go away They may ask the advice of others, especially family members They may first try to treat the symptoms themselves, using aspirin or antacids They may think the symptoms are related to other health problems (upset stomach, arthritis) They may put the care of others first (take care of children or other family members) and not want to worry them Waiting just a couple hours for medical help may limit your treatment options, increase the amount of damage to your heart muscle, and reduce your chance of survival. Call 9-1-1 – Not a friend Calling 9-1-1 or nearest hospital is almost always the fastest way to get life-saving treatment. When you call, emergency personnel may tell you to chew an aspirin to break up a possible blood clot, if there is not a medical reason for you to avoid aspirin. When they arrive, emergency personnel can promptly begin treatment, and they are trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Also, you’re likelier to get treated faster at the hospital if you arrive by ambulance. If you are having symptoms, do not drive yourself unless there is absolutely no other option. If you’ve had prior heart treatments Even if you’ve been treated for a prior heart attack or if you’ve had other treatments for coronary artery disease, a heart attack CAN happen again. Treatments such as medications, open heart surgery and interventional procedures DO NOT cure coronary artery disease. Know in advance: The symptoms of a heart attack. If you are at risk for a heart attack. Ask your doctor about your risk and what you should do to reduce your risk. Be sure to ask about aspirin and nitroglycerin. Who to call for emergency help. Do not call a friend or family member. Call for an ambulance to take you to the nearest emergency room. Share this information with your family members and caregivers so they learn to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and when to help you seek emergency treatment.