About 162 000 of the 715 million heart attacks that occur in America each year are deadly. Nearly half of people who pass away do so unexpectedly before reaching a hospital.
Although having a heart attack might be terrifying, by learning the symptoms and what to do, you can potentially save someone’s life, including your own. A clot in one of the heart’s arteries unexpectedly limits blood supply to the heart during a heart attack, and the heart muscle starts to die within minutes.
The term “myocardial infarction” officially refers to the death of the heart muscle. The harm increases as longer time goes by without receiving therapy. A heart attack causes a portion of the heart to die, which cannot be replaced or repaired.
Who Is at Risk
Many people mistakenly believe that heart attacks are a “man’s problem,” although heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death for both men and women in the US. After the age of 45, the risk of heart attack in men significantly rises. In the years following menopause, heart attacks in women are more likely to happen (usually after the age of 50). However, heart attacks can also strike younger people.
In addition to age, the following factors raise the chance of a heart attack:
- a previous heart attack or procedure to open up the coronary arteries
- Family history of early heart disease (father or brother diagnosed before age 55, mother or sister diagnosed before age 65)
- diabetes mellitus
- high blood cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- cigarette smoking
- overweight
- physical inactivity
Consult your doctor to learn how to lower your chance of having a heart attack if you have 1 or more of these risks.
Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
Many people believe that a heart attack is abrupt and severe, similar to the “Hollywood” heart attack that is portrayed in the movies, where the victim grips his or her chest and collapses. The truth is that a lot of heart attacks begin with a small amount of chest pain.
Someone who experiences this kind of “non-Hollywood” warning might not know exactly what is wrong. Even so, the soreness (together with other symptoms) could come and go. Because the symptoms of a heart attack can vary greatly from one to the next, even those who have experienced one may not identify the warning indications.
The following is a list of heart attack red flags. Learn them, but keep the following in mind: You should seek medical attention right away even if you are unsure whether it is a heart attack. This includes any sudden, new symptoms or modifications to your current symptom pattern (for example, your symptoms become stronger, become more frequent, or last longer than usual).
1. Chest Discomfort
The majority of heart attacks are characterized by persistent or recurrent discomfort in the middle of the chest.
Each person has a unique word for that emotion. Some claim that they feel as though an elephant is sitting on them. Others claim it feels hot or pinched. The sensation typically persists for a while. You could experience it when at rest or while engaging in physical activity.
It’s probably not your heart if the pain is only fleeting or if there is a region that aches more when you touch or press on it. You should still visit a doctor to have it examined. Call 911 if the symptoms are more severe and don’t go away in a few minutes.
2. Nausea, Indigestion, Heartburn, or Stomach Pain
These signs and symptoms can occur in heart attack sufferers. even make them throw up. This kind of ailment is more frequently reported by women than by men.
Of course, there are a variety of other causes for upset stomachs that have nothing to do with your heart. After all, it might just be something you ate. But you should be aware that a heart attack might potentially cause it.
Let a doctor investigate if you experience these symptoms and are at risk for heart issues, especially if you also experience any of the other signs and symptoms listed here.
3. Pain that Spreads to the Arm
Radiating pain down the left side of the body is another typical heart attack sign.
It nearly always radiates outward from the chest. However, other people experience arm pain primarily and develop heart attacks.
4. You Feel Dizzy or Lightheaded
There are numerous factors that can temporarily cause you to lose your balance or feel weak. Maybe you didn’t eat or drink enough, or you got up too quickly.
However, call an ambulance as soon as you feel unstable and have chest pain or shortness of breath. It may indicate that your blood pressure has decreased as a result of your heart’s inability to pump properly.
5. Throat or Jaw Pain
Jaw or throat pain by itself are probably unrelated to the heart. It’s more likely to be brought on by a musculoskeletal condition, a cold, or a sinus issue.
However, it may indicate a heart attack if you experience discomfort or pressure in the middle of your chest that radiates up into your throat or jaw.
Make a 911 call and get medical help to make sure everything is okay.
6. You Get Exhausted Easily
Make an appointment with your doctor immediately away if you suddenly feel exhausted or breathless after doing something you had no trouble doing in the past, such climbing stairs or carrying groceries from the car.
We value these kinds of big changes more than any minor discomfort you may be experiencing. Particularly in women, extreme fatigue or inexplicable weakness might be a sign of heart disease. These symptoms can last for days at a time.
7. Snoring
You’re allowed to snore a little bit as you sleep. However, snoring that is excessively loud and sounds like gasping or choking may indicate sleep apnea. You experience this multiple times throughout the course of the night while you are still asleep. Your heart is more strained as a result.
To determine if you have this issue, your doctor can determine whether you require a sleep study. If so, you could require a CPAP machine to facilitate restful breathing.
8. Sweating
Unexpectedly breaking out in a cold sweat could be an indication of a heart attack. Call 911 to get to a hospital right once if this occurs along with any of the other symptoms listed above. Make no attempt to drive yourself.
9. A Cough That Won’t Quit
This typically doesn’t indicate a heart problem. But be particularly aware of the danger if you have heart disease or are aware that you are at risk.
It may indicate heart failure if you have a persistent cough that generates white or pink mucus. Blood can flow back into the lungs when the heart cannot keep up with the body’s demands. Ask your doctor to investigate the root of your cough.
10. Your Legs, Feet, and Ankles Are Swollen
This can indicate that your heart isn’t pumping blood as efficiently as it ought to. Blood builds up in the veins and causes bloating when the heart cannot pump blood quickly enough.
Bloating may result from heart failure because it may be more difficult for the kidneys to eliminate additional water and sodium from the body.
11. Irregular Heart Beat
When you are anxious or aroused, your heart may speed, or it may occasionally skip or add a beat. However, if it persists for a prolonged period of time or if it happens frequently, let your doctor know.
Most often, something simple to solve, like too much caffeine or insufficient sleep, is the root of the problem. But on occasion, it might be a sign of atrial fibrillation, a condition that requires medical attention. Therefore, ask your doctor to examine it.
Call 911!
Timing is crucial. People who suffer the early indicators of a heart attack frequently downplay the severity of the situation and opt to wait it out. However, as time is of the essence, anyone exhibiting these red flags must seek immediate medical attention.
Call 911 as soon as possible, no more than five minutes after the incident. You should take the drug as directed if your doctor has prescribed nitroglycerin for you if you have angina pectoris, a condition that is typically brought on by a partial blockage of one or more of the arteries feeding the heart and causes chest pain that subsides with rest.
Call 911 right away and head to the hospital if your symptoms don’t go away in five minutes so that the doctors can check to see whether you’re experiencing a heart attack.
The fastest and safest method to get to the hospital is to call 911 and ride in an ambulance. There are further advantages to dialing 911 as well:
- Before you even get to the hospital, emergency responders can start treating you.
- During a heart attack, your heart can stop beating. Emergency professionals are equipped with the expertise and tools necessary to get it pumping once more.
- Patients experiencing a heart attack who arrive at the hospital via ambulance typically get treated more quickly.
Note: If you are experiencing heart attack symptoms and are unable to phone 9-1-1 for some reason, arrange for someone else to drive you right away to the hospital. You should never drive by yourself unless you have no other option since you might fall asleep at the wheel.
Questions You Will Likely Be Asked in the Emergency Department
When you arrive at the emergency room, you should be prepared to respond to the following inquiries about your symptoms as best you can:
- When did your discomfort begin?
- What were you doing when the pain started?
- Was it at its greatest intensity right away, or did it build up gradually to a peak?
- Did the discomfort come with any other symptoms, such as nausea, perspiration, or shortness of breath?
- What would you rate your discomfort right now on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the worst?