The Warning Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack

 

Heart Attack

Medical experts agree that with most heart attacks one or more of the following symptoms will occur leading up to the cardiac event. For myself when I had a heart attack back in May of 2009 I started with a sick feeling in my stomach and minor chest pain that felt more like indigestion. To further my thinking that it was indigestion I felt better whenever I belched. I disregarded the initial signs as being indigestion. Fortunately for myself the third symptom I had made me realize quickly that I may be having a heart attack. I had a shooting pain in my lower jaw which is a classic symptom of a heart attack.

Below is a list of the most common symptoms and signs that you may be having a heart attack. If you should experience one or more of these symptoms do not take a chance and get to an emergency room immediately, it could mean the difference between life and death.

Angina ( chest pain ): This pain has been described many ways and may feel differently to each person that has it. The pain has been described as a discomfort in the center of the chest, a tightness, pressure, numbness, burning, fullness and squeezing pain. The symptom usually acts up for a while and then dissipates only to reappear again. As in my case this symptom is often mistaken for indigestion or heartburn.

Pain in the extremities or upper torso region of the body: These pains can consist of aching or dull pains in the shoulder or arm muscles as well as the back, neck and jaw areas. The pain can also be a shooting pain down you arms to your fingers or in your neck, jaw and shoulder area. Numbness may also occur.

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath: If these symptoms come on all of a sudden and you have never had any difficulty with breathing before this is something to get looked at immediately.


Sweating and cold sweat: Another common symptom that often goes overlooked.

Nausea and vomiting: More signs that are often overlooked due to the person thinking they may be getting sick ior had bad food. If this symptom comes on suddenly then you should get to a hospital or call for help.

Light headed: feeling very weak or anxious are more symptoms to take seriously if they come upon you suddenly, especially if you are not doing anything strenuous at the moment when you feel this way.

Rapid and irregular heart beats: You may not know if your heart is beating irregularly but you will certainly know if it is beating rapidly and if you arent doing anything strenuous or straining to the body at the time this symptom occurs then it could be a clear indicator of a heart attack coming on.
Just knowing these symptoms is not enough. We fool ourselves into thinking this couldn’t happen to me. Most heart attack victims disregard the initial signs of a cardiac event. I know I did. I disregarded the first two symptoms I had which were pains in my chest and feeling sick to my stomach. I could never have a heart attack so it had to be indigestion. I was wrong and could have easily died thinking that way. It took the third symptom of a shooting pain in my jaw to convince me that I was having a heart attack. That very symptom which was the last symptom I had showed up over 24 hours after the initial symptoms.

Do not take these signs and symptoms lightly. The quicker you act the better chances you have that you will survive the heart attack and the better chances are that the cardiac event will be minor. If you think you are having a heart attack chew an aspirin or two that will release the aspirin into your blood stream faster and thin your blood which could also save your life.