Do you know the symptoms of a heart attack? This is a life-threatening emergency that requires quick action. Don’t ignore even minor heart attack symptoms. Immediate treatment lessens heart damage and saves lives.
Recognizing the Symptoms
These vary from person to person. Not all heart attacks begin with the sudden, crushing chest pain that most of us have heard about. In fact, some cause no symptoms at all, especially those that happen to people with diabetes.
They may begin slowly, with mild pain and discomfort. They can happen while you're at rest or active. How severe they are can depend on your age, gender, and medical conditions.
Warning Signs
Common ones may include: Chest discomfort that feels like pressure, fullness, or a squeezing pain that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
Pain and discomfort that go beyond your chest to other parts of your upper body, like one or both arms, or your back, neck, stomach, teeth, and jaw
Unexplained shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
Other symptoms, such as:
Cold sweats
Nausea or vomiting
Lightheadedness
Anxiety, indigestion
Unexplained fatigue
Women are more likely than men to have additional issues, like neck, shoulder, upper back, or abdominal pain.
If you or someone you’re with has chest discomfort or other heart attack symptoms, call 911 right away. While your first impulse may be to drive yourself or the heart attack victim to the hospital, it’s better to get an ambulance. Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel can start treatment on the way to the hospital. They’re also trained to revive a person if their heart stops.
If you can't reach EMS, drive the person to the hospital. If you’re the one with the symptoms, don’t drive yourself to the hospital unless you have no other choice.
Many people delay treatment because they doubt they are having a heart attack. They don't want to bother or worry their friends and family.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
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