A heart attack, called a myocardial infarction, occurs when there is inadequate blood flow to part of the heart muscle. Lack of blood flow is typically caused by atherosclerosis, which is plaque buildup in the coronary arteries. Heart tissue dies when circulation is impaired or lost, and damage to the heart is the result. Men and women experience similar symptoms, but some symptoms are more commonly associated with men.
Chest Pain
The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that the most commonly reported heart attack warning sign in men is chest pain. Severe, crushing, squeezing, pressure-like chest pain is a classic symptom that is compared to having an elephant sitting on your chest. Chest pain can come and go, easing with rest and intensifying with exertion. Men may experience intermittent chest pain for a long period of time and ignore this heart attack warning sign.
Jaw Pain
Another frequently experienced symptom is jaw pain. Some men may experience sharp, stabbing or aching pain in the jaw or teeth, with or without chest pain. This pain may radiate to the neck, as well.
Radiating Pain
Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS RN, and M. Linda Workman, Ph.D., authors of "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care," discuss the heart attack warning signs of arm and back pain. Usually, these symptoms occur in the presence of chest pain that radiates down one or both arms and through the chest to the back. But, sometimes, arm or back pain may be the only symptom. Men might ignore this symptom and attribute it to an injury or muscle strain.
Diaphoresis
Scott and White ScriptNotes discusses that a man having a heart attack may sweat profusely. He may be pale, diaphoretic (cold, clammy sweating) and weak. This might happen because of the intensity of the pain or from the onset of shock.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea is a very common heart attack warning sign. Men typically experience this symptom along with chest pain. Severe pain and blood pressure changes that result in blood being shunted from the stomach to other vital organs often bring about vomiting.
Short of Breath
The AHA says that a person having a heart attack may yawn frequently and feel short of breath. Difficulty breathing could be the only heart attack warning sign. Any incidence of shortness of breath without a clear cause should be checked out by a doctor.
Indigestion
A man experiencing a heart attack may confuse symptoms of burning in the chest and stomach pain with acid reflux. Frequent burping and pressure in the stomach can be heart attack warning signs.
References
- American Heart Association: Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing - Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care"; Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS RN, & M. Linda Workman, Ph.D.; 2006
- Scott and White ScriptNotes: What Is a Heart Attack?
