A heart attack occurs when blood clots form and block the flow of blood to the heart. Heart attacks can cause severe heart damage before they are ever discovered. They can be mild and difficult to notice or severe and life threatening. Understanding the warning signs of a heart attack is very important. The signs of a heart attack can be different for each person and can come on suddenly or very slowly.
Chest Pain
The most recognized symptom is that of chest pain. This chest pain may feel like heartburn for some people. For others, it can present as a pressure. In fact, some people report feeling like a heavy weight has been placed on their chest. The website for Merck Pharmaceuticals reports that a person may undergo waves or episodes of pain and pressure that may come on when they exert themselves and be relieved when they are resting.
Other Pain
Heart attack pain can occur in various locations of the body. This makes it difficult to pinpoint it as a sign of a heart attack unless medical tests are performed. For example, pain can present in a person’s neck, jaw, back or teeth. Many women commonly report neck or jaw pain as a symptom. The pain can also occur in the back or shoulder blade and has been known to gravitate into an individual’s arm (usually the left). These types of pain should always be reported to your health care provider.
Sweating and Fatigue
Along with the pain the person may experience episodes of sweating and skin that is clammy or cool to the touch. During this time the person may also have a flushed look. Their cheeks may appear rosy while the rest of the face is very pale. Some people even exhibit cyanosis (a blue tinge to their fingers, toes or lips). Fatigue is also commonly reported by many people. But for the person experiencing a heart attack the fatigue may be profound. Many people feel very tired and worn out and feel like they cannot perform the simplest daily task. They may feel the need to rest or sleep more and may not have the energy to even go to work.
Breathing Difficulty
Breathing may become increasingly difficult for a person experiencing a heart attack. A person may first notice a shortness of breath when they are walking to the mail box or doing regular activities. A person may become extremely shaky and may clutch their chest. It is very frightening to not be able to breathe and this symptom should never be passed off as nothing.
Nausea and Heartburn
Many people experience stomach upset or nausea during the actual heart attack. Some people may even feel the need to throw up. The nausea can be accompanied by sweating and chest pain. It can also accompany a dizzy or spinning feeling. In other situations, the person may believe that they are experiencing heartburn or acid reflux and may actually ignore the problem. However, this can be a very risky sign to ignore this symptom.
Sense of Doom
This may sound funny but people often have an impending sense of doom before a heart attack occurs. In fact, the website for The Mayo Clinic reports that this may occur several hours, weeks or days before the actual heart attack event. The person may even start talking about their own death or telling family and friends about what they would like to have done in the event of their death. Many friends and family pass it off until the heart attack occurs.
Symptom Checker
Heeding the signs of a heart attack is extremely important. If you are not feeling well and having any of the above symptoms then you should seek immediate medical assistance. If you have questions about your symptoms, the Mayo Clinic website offers a symptom checker that can help you determine what might be causing your health problems.
Sources:
The Mayo Clinic; Heart Attack; 2009
Merck; Acute coronary Syndromes; 2009
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