Heart attacks affect about one million Americans every year, resulting in the death of almost half, according to MedlinePlus. Heart attacks, or myocardial infarctions, occur when the flow of blood into the heart becomes blocked by a clot. Understanding symptoms of a heart attack plays an important role in identifying a problem in order to seek immediate assistance.
Onset
In some cases of heart attack, the American Heart Association identifies that symptoms come suddenly and intensely. The typical heart attack, however, has a slow onset with only "mild pain or discomfort", according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Further complicating identification of a heart attack is that in some men, no symptoms emerge at all, and symptoms are different for everyone.
Chest Pain and Discomfort
When compared to women, men have a higher likelihood of experiencing chest pain during a heart attack. Additionally, chest pain or discomfort, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute indicate, is most common symptom of a heart attack. Pain or discomfort may feel mild to severe, manifesting in the center of the chest. The symptom manifests for only a couple of minutes or may disappear and come back. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute identify that it may feel "like indigestion or heartburn."
Common Symptoms
Besides pain and discomfort in the chest, these symptoms may occur in other parts of the body as well, including, according to the American Heart Association, arms, neck, back, jaw or stomach. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute identifies that shortness of breath may develop, accompanying chest discomfort or preceding it. This source identifies other common symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, fainting or cold sweat. Men, when compared to women, are less likely to experience some of these symptoms, the American Heart Association indicates, including shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting and pain in the jaw or back. MayoClinic.com states that another symptom may consist of an "impending sense of doom."
Other Features
A heart attack may occur at any time, MayoClinic.com warns, either while active or at rest. The more symptoms present the increased probability that the individual is experiencing a heart attack. Additionally, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute warn that for individuals with a previous history of heart attack, symptoms of a second one may manifest differently than the first.
Intervention
Torpy, Lynm and Glass emphasize that seeking immediate assistance upon recognizing the symptoms of heart attack remains a crucial means to prevent significant damage to the heart. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute recommend an individual call 911 within five minutes of symptom onset. The individual experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, this same source warns, should not drive themselves to the hospital. Calling an ambulance enables individual suffering a heart attack to receive more immediate treatment.
References
- American Heart Association: Warning Signs of Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest
- Journal of the American Medical Association: Myocardial Infarction; Janet Torpy, Cassio Lynm and Richard Glass, 2008
- MayoClinic: Heart Attack
- MedlinePlus: Heart Attack
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Heart Attack
