Signs of a Heart Attack

It is estimated that every year 1.1 million people in America suffer a heart attack. Heart attack is the leading killer in the United States, claiming 460,000 victims every year. These statistics provide a good reason to know the signs of a heart attack. The most important step to take after recognizing the signs of a heart attack is to seek immediate emergency medical attention for yourself or someone else.

A heart attack--the death of the heart muscle--occurs when there is a blockage to a coronary artery that supplies blood and oxygen to the heart. When this occurs, the muscle of the heart is deprived of blood and oxygen, causing the heart muscle to die. Immediate emergency treatment to resolve the blockage must be received within 20 to 40 minutes to prevent irreversible death to the heart muscle.

The significant signs of a heart attack according to MayoClinic.com are chest pain and discomfort, upper body or shoulder pain along with shortness of breath, fainting and sweating, nausea and vomiting and anxiety. Men are more likely to experience the typical chest pain and discomfort during a heart attack than do women.

According to MayoClinic.com, "women are six times as likely to die of heart disease as of breast cancer. Heart disease kills more women over 65 than do all cancer combined." It is important to know that the signs of a heart attack in women may be different and not be as specific as those in men. As a result women may delay seeking immediate emergency care during a heart attack because their symptoms were unrecognized as a heart attack.

Women may experience mild chest pains or no chest pains. They are more likely to experience upper body pain radiating from the neck and shoulders to the arms, back and into the stomach along with shortness of breath and dizziness. In addition there may be nausea and vomiting weakness and sweating. Because of this women may experience a delay in a heart attack diagnosis and are less likely to be admitted to a coronary care unit.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that anyone experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack or sees someone else experiencing those symptoms should call 911 to get immediate medical attention. The AHA suggests that even if you are not sure if it is a heart attack it is better to call because time is of the essence.

Reference

• Bio Medicine.org
• American Heart.org
• Medicine Net.com

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