Approximately 1.5 million heart attacks occur in the United States every year, with about 500,000 deaths as a result – that’s roughly a heart attack every second and a heart attack death every minute.
Given such statistics, it’s a good idea to be aware of the symptoms associated with a heart attack so you can be aware of a potential heart attack and seek the medical attention you need. With a heart attack, every minute counts. Many times, people delay treatment or medical attention because they have preconceived notions of what a heart attack will feel like, or because they are not aware of all of the symptoms.
While symptoms of a heart attack vary with each individual case, there are a number that can indicate a heart problem. These include:
? Chest pain. Also called angina, chest pain is usually the most common and well-known symptom of a heart attack. Basically, it’s the heart’s way of telling the body that it isn’t getting enough oxygen. A heart attack results when heart cells begin to die from lack of oxygen. Usually, this type of chest pain is described more as pressure or squeezing; it is generally not described as a sharp pain. Squeezing chest pressure that lasts more than a couple of minutes can indicate a heart attack.
? Pain in the upper body, particularly the jaw, neck, shoulders, and/or arms. As with the chest pain, this is more a squeezing feeling or ache rather than a sharp pain. In some cases it can give off a burning sensation. It could be very mild or very intense.
? Lightheadedness, nausea, shortness of breath, or breaking into a cold sweat. Dizziness is also common at the onslaught of a heart attack.
? Pallor. Another symptom of a heart attack is increased paleness or pallor in the face, an indication that blood is not flowing properly throughout the body.
? Nervousness or feeling of impending doom. Many people who have survived heart attacks talk of a “sixth sense,” or feeling that something bad is about to happen while experiencing a heart attack.
It’s important to remember that not all of these symptoms will be present in the case of a heart attack. There may be one, there may be all of them. Contrary to popular belief, a heart attack does not always occur during exercise or extreme exertion; rather, this is most likely a form of angina. Heart attacks most often occur in the early hours of the morning, between 4 and 10 AM. This is because adrenaline is higher in the morning, and adrenaline serves to break up the plaque that hardens the arteries. This breakup leads to clotting, which in turn results in a heart attack.
If you think you are experiencing a heart attack or if you feel a crushing or squeezing sensation in your chest that persists, it is crucial you seek help immediately. The goal is to clear the blockage in the arteries as quickly as possible before permanent damage or death occurs, which can happen quickly. Even if it turns out you are not having a heart attack, the chest pain could be indicative of a problem that also requires immediate help.
If you are not allergic to it, experts recommend that immediately after calling 911 you should chew and swallow an aspirin. The ingredients in aspirin thin the blood, making it easier to reach the heart.
A person experiencing a heart attack does not always feel excruciating, unbearable pain. Because every second counts when a heart attack occurs, it’s important to remain educated concerning heart attack symptoms.