Many individuals who experience signs of a heart attack allow them to
go unnoticed. Ignoring the tale-tell signs of a heart attack can cause
the problem to be much more serious than necessary, potentially leading
to heart failure and even death.
If you think you are experiencing a heart attack, seek medical
attention immediately. This is especially true for individuals who have
previously had a heart attack or at a greater risk for a heart attack
due to medical conditions or current prescriptions.
Remember the old adage, “better safe than sorry” and immediately seek
medical help if you can identify a single sign that the pain or
discomfort you are experiencing may be a heart attack.
There are a great many myths when it comes to dealing with heart
attacks and the symptoms of individuals who are having a heart attack.
Many people believe the pain has to be extreme or intense before they
should seek medical attention. This is a common myth and completely
false, as some sufferers say their heart attack was simply
discomforting or mildly painful.
When an individual is having a heart attack, they will probably not
look like sufferers in movies or on television. The mental association
of heart attacks with individuals clutching their chests and falling to
the ground is usually incorrect, as many heart attack victims say their
attack began very slowly with an unusual feeling. If left undetected, a
heart attack can significantly magnify in scale, but usually heart
attacks are not a sudden burst of pain.
Women are prone to having heart attacks without knowing it, putting
them at a greater risk for complications or problems. Most women think
they are not at risk for a heart attack, but may actually be at a high
risk for one. Speak with your doctor about any potential problems with
heart attack in your family history or as a result to a current medical
issue before dismissing the threat.
There are four main warning signs when it comes to determining whether
or not the symptoms you are experiencing may be a heart attack. If you
are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek medical attention for
potential heart attack immediately.
1.Chest pain or discomfort. The chest pain associated with a heart
attack may not be overwhelming, but rather an uncomfortable feeling.
This discomfort has been said to come and go, feeling like a pressure
on the sufferer’s chest or an uncomfortable squeezing feeling. Usually,
during a heart attack, any pain or discomfort originates in the center
of the victim’s chest.
2.Upper body discomfort. Many heart attack victims relate that they
experienced discomfort in their upper body, especially their shoulder,
back, jaw, or arms, before the sensation affected their chest. This can
also include an unusual sensation in the stomach. For this reason, a
heart attack can be easily mistaken for heartburn or a simple stomach
ache.
3.Shortness of breath. Usually occurring simultaneously with pain or
discomfort in the chest, shortness of breath can be anything from the
inability to catch one’s breath to being unable to properly breathe.
Many heart attack victims dismissed this symptom as a side effect of
whatever activity in which they were participating when the heart
attack occurred.
4.Nausea. The feeling of being sick to one’s stomach is commonly
associated with early warning symptoms of a heart attack. This symptom
coupled with discomfort in the stomach can lead the heart attack to
dismiss the symptoms as a simple stomach ache or stomach flu.
Other symptoms can include a general feeling of lightheadedness or
dizziness. Many heart attack victims relate they received an overall
feeling of unease and had an idea that something was out of the
ordinary. Also, many victims have been known to break out in a cold
sweat, which can also lead to a misdiagnosis of a flu bug or a less
serious problem.
Since heart attacks are quite common in both men and women, you should
make it a point to speak to your primary health care provider about
your risk for a heart attack. Many individuals are unaware of any
potential risk or heart problems until it is too late and they have
already experienced a heart attack. By treating any problems before it
is too late, you will be more likely to experience the least damage to
your heart as possible.
