Some heart attacks are sudden and intense with no warning signs or symptoms, but there is no doubt to anyone that it is a heart attack. But most heart attacks are slower to show definite signs. A person might experience mild chest pain or discomfort not really knowing what is wrong, or think they have indigestion and wait too long to get medical attention. Some early signs of a heart attack include: mild chest pain or discomfort in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes or the pain will go away and come back frequently. Patients have described the pain as pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the chest. Some discomfort or pain may appear in other areas of your upper body such as one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach. You could experience shortness of breath with or without the chest pain. Other signs of a heart attack include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. Women experience the mild chest pain most often; but they are more likely to have shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and back and jaw pain as well. First and foremost, if you think you are having a heart attack call 9-1-1- immediately. Do not wait, time is of the essence. For every minute that passes from the time of a sudden heart attack until a defibrillator is applied, the chance of surviving a sudden heart attack decreases 7 percent to 10 percent. The fastest way to get help is to call 9-1-1. Emergency medical services staff begin life-saving treatment upon arrival. The staff are trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. The patient is treated faster in the Emergency Room if they arrive by ambulance. |
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