Recognizing the Signs of a Heart Attack

Posted by: Tampa Cardio

On: September 22, 2015

Heart attacks continue to be the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States today. And while the survival rate for heart attacks is high, it is higher amongst those who are with others when their heart attack strikes and who are able to recognize the signs and get medical attention quickly. However, no two heart attacks are exactly alike and recognizing the signs can mean different things in different situations.

Heart attacks can come on immediately and suddenly, without any apparent cause at all. On the other hand, they can also build-up gradually and with such a slow onset of symptoms that many of those who have heart attacks are not aware of what is happening until it is too late. Because immediate care is absolutely essential for survival of a heart attack, being able to recognize these symptoms is of the utmost importance, particularly if you know you are at a heightened risk of heart attack.

The following signs could signal an oncoming heart attack and require emergency medical attention:

  • Chest discomfort – you’ve probably heard the term “chest pain” frequently used when describing the onset of a heart attack, but many heart attack survivors report that it’s actually not even painful at all. It can often be described as more of a “chest pressure,” where the patient often experiences squeezing, fullness, and yes, sometimes pain.
  • Discomfort around the chest – you may have heard that in a person who is about to have a heart attack, that their left arm will go numb or tingle. While this can be true, heart attack sufferers have actually reported this discomfort throughout the body but particularly in areas directly surrounding the chest, such as the back, shoulders, neck and jaw, stomach, and one or both arms.
  • Shortness of breath – some people may experience fatigue, exhaustion, or shortness of breath and trouble breathing right before a heart attack. This symptom tends to be more common in women than in men and can actually start appearing a few months before an impeding heart attack.
  • Gastrointestinal problems – although less common, some people report feeling nauseous and having problems with indigestion before a heart attack, and even throwing up in some cases. This symptom can be particularly dangerous because people are often too quick to mistake it for heartburn and reach for the medicine cabinet instead of seeking proper emergency treatment.

If you are concerned that you or someone you love may be at risk for a heart attack, then contact the physicians at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates today by calling (813) 975-2800, and we’d be happy to get you on the right track towards managing your condition.

Posted by: Tampa Cardio

On: 22/09/2015

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