Early Heart Attack Symptoms & Signs
MD University Study of Ultra-Early Stroke Treatment
May 27, 2009
A heart attack is an extreme emergency requiring quick medical attention. The number one medical killer in the U.S. is coronary heart disease, and “That’s why it’s so important to...know the warning signs [of heart attack and stroke]...respond quickly and properly [911] as they occur,” according to the (author unknown) article, by the American Heart Association (AHA), titled “Early Earning Signs of Heart Attack and Stroke.” The article is dated 2009, and published on the AHA web site.
Coronary Heart Disease
The definition of heart disease, according to the Farlix Free Medical Dictionary on-line, is “A structural or functional abnormality of the heart, or of the blood vessels supplying the heart, that impairs its normal functioning.” The AHA article advises, “If you or someone you’re with has chest discomfort...don’t wait. Call 9-1-1.”
What Occurs During a Heart Attack
“Some heart attacks are sudden and intense...but most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort...” according to the AHA article. AHA lists the following heart attack warning signs:
- Discomfort or pain in the chest area. The discomfort is usually in the chest center and lasts more than a just a few minutes, and keeps going away and coming back.
- Upper body discomfort or pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
- Shortness of breath. A symptom usually associated with chest discomfort.
- Other symptoms such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, and feeling light-headed.
Early Warning Signs of a Stroke
“A stroke is the sudden death of brain cells [due to clot] in a localized area due to inadequate blood flow,” according to the Farlix Free Medical Dictionary. The AMA article lists the stroke warning signs:
- Immediate numbness or weakness in face, arms, legs, or on one side of the body.
- Sudden trouble with speech and understanding.
- Problem seeing with one or both eyes.
- Problems with walking, standing, dizziness, loss of balance.
- Severe headache with no known cause.
“”Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) [stroke caused due to bleeding of blood vessels in brain] causes higher morbidity and mortality than other forms of stroke...” according to the article titled “Ultra-early Hemostatic Therapy for Intracerebral Hemorrhage.” The author of the study by the Division of Critical Care Neurology, Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, is Mayer SA. The article, dated July, 2003, is published on the PubMed web site.
According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons study, “hematoma volume [amount of clotted blood] is a powerful predictor of outcome after ICH [intracerebral hemorrhage].” The study showed a poor mortality outcome when clot evacuation is done four hours or more after the event. The conclusion of the study is that “Ultra-early hemostatic therapy, given within 3 to 4 hours of onset, may potentially arrest bleeding and minimize hematoma growth.”
According to AHA early warning signs of a heart attack and stroke are mostly different. Their advice is to live a healthy life-style avoiding excessive consumption of fat, engaging in daily exercise, and reducing overweight and obesity. In the event of a stroke, according to the College of Physicians and Surgeons study, ICH treatment should be done in the emergency room within three hours- the sooner the better for a survival outcome.
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