A heart attack occurs when the heart cannot get enough oxygen due to a sudden cut in blood flow. At this point the heart muscle fails to pump adequately and the tissues quickly begin to die. In the United States alone, approximately 735,000 people have a heart attack each year. However, only about 27% know all the pressing symptoms of a heart attack. Do everything you can not to fall into this statistic! Crushing pain in the chest and upper body (with or without exertion) are typical symptoms of a heart attack, but there are other warning signs you should look out for. Recognizing the warning signs of a heart attack and getting to the hospital immediately can mean the difference between survival, irreversible tissue damage, and death. If you have any concerns about the pain you are experiencing and are concerned that it may be a heart attack, seek immediate medical attention.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Knowing When to Go to the Hospital
Step 1. Pay attention to chest pain
Whether acute or deaf, it is the best known symptom of heart attack. People experiencing a heart attack often report experiencing a piercing, squeezing, fullness, pressure, or stiffness sensation in the middle or left chest area. This pain may last a few minutes or longer, or it may disappear and recur later.
- Chest pain that results from a heart attack isn't always an overwhelming feeling of heaviness that some people describe; in fact, it can be quite moderate, so don't ignore this type of pain.
- "Retrosternal" chest pain is often found, ie it affects the posterior area of the sternum. It is easy to confuse this type of pain with an abdominal disorder, such as gastric bloating. If you are concerned about this pain, contact your doctor.
- Know that chest pain is not always felt during a heart attack; in fact, more than half of people who have had a heart attack do not complain about it; so, don't rule out the possibility of such ailment just because your breastbone doesn't hurt.
Step 2. Check for a feeling of discomfort in the upper body
Sometimes the pain caused by a heart attack radiates outward from the chest area, causing pain in the neck, jaw, abdomen, upper back, and left arm. usually it is a dull pain. If you haven't been exercising recently or haven't done anything that could cause pain in the upper back, know that this could be a sign of an impending heart attack.
Step 3. Pay attention to dizziness, a feeling of lightheadedness, or fainting
These are also very common symptoms, although they are not present in everyone who has a heart attack.
- Like other heart attack symptoms, these too can be very similar to those of other diseases, so you may be tempted to overlook them easily. Instead, you need to be alert, especially if you are also experiencing chest pain.
- Women tend to experience these symptoms more often than men, although not all of them have them.
Step 4. Check your breathing
Shortness of breath is a subtle symptom of a heart attack and you shouldn't take it lightly. It is different from shortness of breath related to other diseases, because it seems to run wild for no reason. People who experience this symptom from a heart attack describe the malaise as having been exercising hard, even if instead they have simply been sitting and relaxed.
This may also be the only symptom of a heart attack, so don't underestimate it; go to the emergency room for help if you feel this, especially if you haven't done anything to justify shortness of breath
Step 5. Check for symptoms of nausea
This can also trigger a feeling of cold sweat and vomiting. If so, especially if there are other warning signs, you could have a heart attack.
Step 6. Monitor your anxiety state
Many heart attack patients experience extreme anxiety and a "feeling of impending doom". Again, the sensation should not be underestimated; seek medical assistance right away if you experience this extreme state of mind.
Step 7. Call emergency services immediately, if you suspect that you or someone you know is having a heart attack. The sooner you get medical attention, the better chance you have of surviving. Don't risk neglecting the problem or waiting too long.
One research found that more than half of people with heart attack symptoms waited more than 4 hours before going to medical facilities. Nearly half of heart attack deaths occur outside hospitals. Don't ignore any symptoms, even if they seem mild to you. Seek medical help as soon as possible
Part 2 of 5: Recognizing other warning signs
Step 1. Seek medical treatment for angina
Angina is chest pain similar to light pressure, which causes a burning sensation or fullness, and is often confused with heartburn. It can be a symptom of coronary artery disease, which is the leading cause of heart attack. If you are experiencing any type of chest pain, the best thing to do is get a medical check-up as soon as possible.
- Angina mostly occurs in the chest, although you may experience pain in your arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, throat, or back. It is quite difficult to understand exactly where the pain is coming from.
- This suffering generally improves after resting for a few minutes. However, if it lasts longer, does not reduce with rest or with specific medicines for angina, go to the emergency room.
- Some people experience angina after exercise and it is not always a symptom of a heart attack or heart disease. The most important thing to do is to check for any alterations in the pain patterns.
- If you experience pain similar to indigestion, you may actually be suffering from angina. Make a doctor's appointment to find the exact cause of your discomfort.
Step 2. Determine if you have arrhythmia
It is an alteration in the normal rhythm of the heartbeat that occurs in at least 90% of people with heart attacks. If you have a throbbing sensation in your chest or your heart seems to "skip a beat", you may have arrhythmia. Visit a cardiologist so that all necessary tests can be performed to determine the cause of your symptoms.
- Arrhythmia can also have much more serious symptoms, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling faint, racing or pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, and chest pain. If any of these symptoms accompany the arrhythmia, call an ambulance right away.
- Although this is a very common disorder, especially among older adults, it could be a sign of serious illness. Don't ignore this problem, talk to your doctor to make sure it's not some more serious condition.
Step 3. Look out for a sense of disorientation, confusion, and stroke-like symptoms
In older people, these symptoms can mean heart problems. See your doctor if you experience unexplained cognitive difficulty.
Step 4. Check for unusual exhaustion
Women are more likely than men to experience an unusual, sudden or inexplicable feeling of exhaustion as a symptom of a heart attack. This can begin a couple of days before the actual attack. If you are strangely and suddenly tired and exhausted, without having changed your daily habits, contact your doctor right away.
Part 3 of 5: Acting Awaiting Help
Step 1. Contact emergency services immediately
Over the phone, the operator can tell you how to help the person experiencing symptoms; strictly follow his instructions. Make sure you call the ambulance before doing anything else.
- Calling 118 (or the emergency service in your area) the times to reach the hospital are certainly faster, compared to going alone by car. So call the ambulance and don't go by car, unless there is no other choice.
- Treatments for heart attacks are most effective if they start within an hour of the first symptoms appearing.
Step 2. Stop any activity
Sit down and rest; try to stay calm by breathing rhythmically as best you can.
Undo any tight clothing, such as collars and belts
Step 3. Take any medications prescribed for your heart problem
If you need to take medications, such as nitroglycerin, be sure to take the recommended dose while waiting for help.
Do not take prescription medications that have not been specifically indicated to you by your doctor, as this may aggravate the situation
Step 4. Take aspirin
Chewing and swallowing aspirin can help clear the blockages and blood clots that contribute to heart attacks.
Do not take this drug if you are allergic or if your doctor has advised you against it
Step 5. Go to the hospital even if your symptoms improve
Even if you start feeling better within five minutes, you still need to seek medical attention. A heart attack can cause blockages in blood flow, which can create other health problems, such as a second heart attack or stroke. So it is important to visit a doctor.
Part 4 of 5: Knowing other Causes of Symptoms
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of dyspepsia
This disease, also known as "indigestion" or "stomach upset" is chronic or recurrent pain that occurs in the lower abdomen but can also cause slight discomfort or pressure in the chest. Dyspepsia involves one or more of the following symptoms:
- Stomach ache;
- Feeling of swelling or fullness
- Belching;
- Acid reflux
- Stomach pain or "upset stomach";
- Lack of appetite.
Step 2. Recognize GERD (gastroesophageal reflux)
This disorder occurs when the muscles of the esophagus do not close it properly, allowing the contents of the stomach to travel back to the esophagus. This causes heartburn and a feeling as if food is "stuck" in the chest. You may also feel nauseous, especially after eating.
Symptoms of GERD usually show up after eating and can worsen if you lie down, bend over, and during the night
Step 3. Recognize the symptoms of asthma
This disorder can cause a feeling of pain, pressure or tension in the chest that often occurs in conjunction with coughing and shortness of breath.
A moderate asthma attack usually goes away within a few minutes. If after a few minutes you are still having difficulty breathing, go to the emergency room
Step 4. Recognize a panic attack
People who experience intense anxiety can suffer from panic attacks. Symptoms initially appear similar to those of a heart attack. You may experience a fast heartbeat, sweating, feeling faint or faint, chest pain, or trouble breathing.
Symptoms of panic attacks generally occur very quickly and go away just as quickly. If you find that your symptoms do not improve within 10 minutes, contact the emergency services immediately
Part 5 of 5: Assess Your Risk Factors
Step 1. Take age into account
The risk of heart attack increases with age; men over 45 and women over 55 are more likely to have a heart attack than the younger population.
- Older people may have different symptoms than young adults and more specifically they may experience fainting, difficulty breathing, nausea and weakness.
- Symptoms of dementia, such as partial memory loss, extravagant or unusual behavior, and limited reasoning, could be signs of a "silent" heart attack in older people.
Step 2. Assess your body weight
If you are obese or overweight, you have a higher risk of having a heart attack.
- A sedentary lifestyle can also help increase the chances of heart attacks.
- A diet high in saturated fat increases the chances of suffering from coronary heart disease, which in turn can lead to a heart attack.
Step 3. Stop smoking
Smoking, whether active or passive, increases the risk of heart attack.
Step 4. Consider other chronic conditions
The risk of a heart attack is higher if you have other health problems, such as those listed below:
- Hypertension;
- Hypercholesterolemia;
- Family or personal history of other heart attacks or strokes;
-
Diabetes.
People with diabetes usually have less obvious heart attack symptoms. Contact your doctor immediately if you have any suspicious signs
Advice
- Don't let embarrassment or the belief that it's not "really" a heart attack prevent you from calling the emergency services. Delay in treatment could be fatal.
- Don't underestimate any heart attack symptoms. If after 5-10 minutes of sitting rest you don't start to feel better, seek medical attention right away.
Warnings
- If you've had a heart attack in the past, you run a higher risk of a recurrence.
- Do not use the defibrillator unless you have been properly trained to operate it.
- In the case of silent ischemia, a heart attack can occur without warning signs or signs of danger.
