Many of the early symptoms of a heart attack are easily ignored. Chest pain that comes and goes, fatigue and nausea are all early warning signs that a heart attack may be developing. Ignoring these signs reduces the risk of survival after a heart attack. Rapid emergency treatment is the best way to ensure a successful outcome after a heart attack.
Features
Some of the earliest symptoms of a heart attack include mild pain or discomfort in the center of the chest. The pain may intensify or it may go away, only to reoccur later. While some people experience traditional pain during a heart attack, others describe a feeling of squeezing or fullness. Pain may develop in either or both arms, in the back or neck or even the jaw. Some people experience pain in the upper abdominal region and mistakenly believe it is heartburn.
Time Frame
Many times a heart attack patient realizes that he has experienced heart attack symptoms for weeks or even months before a full scale heart attack. Unfortunately, a person often doesn't realize this until it is too late. Shortness of breath, breaking into a cold sweat or feeling clammy and even nausea, including vomiting, are all early warning signs of a heart attack. For many people, reoccurring angina, or chest pain that develops with physical exertion and diminishes at rest, is the earliest symptom of a heart attack.
Misconceptions
One of the biggest misconceptions that people make when experiencing heart attack symptoms is waiting a few minutes to see if they feel better. Anyone experiencing heart attack symptoms should immediately call 911. Roughly one-half of those who die from a heart attack do so within the first hour. Time is of the essence for heart attack victims. Symptoms may seem to go away, but often return with a vengeance, making driving to the hospital on your own a risky endeavor for both you and others.
Prevention/Solution
The most effective way to prevent a heart attack is to reduce or eliminate the risk factors that increase the odds of developing one. These risk factors include smoking, lack of exercise, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and stress. People who suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood levels of homocysteine should work with their doctors to manage their health. Family history is the only risk factor for heart attacks that cannot be improved.
Complications
Even those who survive a heart attack are still at risk. There are a variety of complications that can develop due to damage to the heart after a heart attack. Valve leakage and heart ruptures occur when the heart is severely damaged and can be fatal. Damage to the heart muscle can also lead to abnormal heart rhythms. Finally, damage to the heart can lead to heart failure, where the heart is not strong enough to pump blood out of the heart. This condition may correct itself over time, or may develop into a lifelong, chronic illness.
