1. Know the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
Many people believe that chest discomfort is the most common way to detect a heart attack. What many people don't know, however, is that the pain can disappear after a few minutes, only to return in a much stronger form in an hour or two. This is a warning sign, and should be a cue to seek immediate medical assistance before the discomfort and pain become too strong to overcome.
2. Feel the Pressure in Your Chest
The chest discomfort that precedes a heart attack may not necessarily be painful at first. In most cases, the individual just feels pressure in the chest, as if someone is pushing down hard on the ribcage. A few heart attack victims have reported a "squeezing" sensation, as if someone was reaching into the chest cavity and physically kneading the heart.
3. Note Pain or Discomfort in Other Parts of the Body
Pain most commonly appears in the left arm of a victim before the heart attack begins. Don't discount pain that occurs in the right arm, however. There are documented cases of heart attacks being preceded by pain in the right arm. Pain and discomfort can also be common in the jaw, the back, the neck or even the stomach.
4. Is it Difficult to Breathe?
Another common way to detect a heart attack is through respiratory distress. Victims of a heart attack are often short of breath just prior to the appearance of chest pain and discomfort. Keep in mind, though, that labored breathing patterns can occur without being accompanied by chest pain and should not be ignored.
5. Be Aware of Other Symptoms
Other signs of a heart attack may include light-headedness, dizziness, nausea, cold sweats and a general feeling of malaise. Some victims of heart attacks merely report an uneasy feeling before chest pain kicks in, almost like an impending cold or flu.
