A myocardial infarction, more familiarly known as a heart attack, is a serious medical condition. The term "myocardial" refers to the heart muscle and "infarction" means that an area of tissue has become necrotic, or died, due to an insufficient supply of blood to that area. People with numbness in their arms and hands may wonder if they are having a heart attack. Besides this unusual sensation in the hands or arms, several other symptoms may indicate a heart attack.
Chest Discomfort
The medical textbook, "Hurst's The Heart" describes chest discomfort as a classic symptom of a heart attack. Patients who have survived heart attacks tend to describe this symptom quite vividly, using terms such as "crushing," or "burning." Other patients may emphasize a sense of discomfort or pressure rather than a sharp pain. Less commonly, the pain may be more knife-like or stabbing. The classic place for this pressure, pain, or ache is just behind the breastbone, on the left side of the chest. Usually, chest pain or discomfort increases for the first few minutes and then begins to diminish in intensity.
Upper Body Pain
Some patients suffering a heart attack may notice that their chest pain actually seems to radiate outwards, down their arms. "Hurst's The Heart" explains that this pain tends to persist for longer than the chest pain, and may be accompanied by jaw pain, back pain, or neck pain. This is another classic symptom of a heart attack and may be seen more frequently in men than in women.
Perspiration
"Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine," in listing the symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction, lists diaphoresis as an associated symptom. Diaphoresis is a medical term used to describe perspiration or sweating, often in large amounts, which may occur in the context of a medical condition. Patients with arm or hand numbness who notice that they are abruptly much more sweaty than usual may in fact be experiencing a heart attack.
Nausea and Vomiting
In certain subgroups of patients, nausea and vomiting may be a sign that a heart attack is occurring. According to "Hurst's The Heart," for instance, older patients may experience episodes of nausea and vomiting that are not explained by illness or medications; in such patients, one possible diagnosis that must be considered is that of an acute myocardial infarction. Another group that may suffer from nausea or vomiting as an associated symptom of a heart attack is women. According to the National Institutes of Health website, Medline Plus, women may experience the symptoms that are typically seen in men who have had heart attacks, which include chest discomfort, profuse sweating, and pain in the arms or jaw, but may also suffer from nausea or vomiting. This is an important symptom of which women should be aware. If a woman is experiencing repeated bouts of nausea or vomiting, rather than just ignoring it or attributing it to stress, she should speak with her healthcare provider. Noticing such early and less-common signs of a heart attack can help improve the chance that a patient will survive the heart attack.
References
- Medline Plus: Heart Disease and Women
- "Hurst's The Heart;" V. Fuster et. al.; 2008
- "Tintinalli'sEmergency Medicine;" J. Tintinalli et. al.; 2004
