In the USA, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. That is 805,000 heart attack events per year.

The survival rate for a first heart attack is 90-97% if you get medical attention right away. If you are not hospitalized right away the chance of surviving drops to 50%.

While the survival rate of heart attacks is fairly good, heart disease still remains the number one cause of death.

The survival rate for heart attacks is higher among those who are with at the time their attack strikes and who can recognize the signs, getting medical attention quickly. It is important to note that no two heart attacks are exactly alike so recognizing the signs can mean different things in different situations.

Some heart attacks can present suddenly, without any apparent cause at all. They can also ramp 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 essential to survive a heart attack, being able to recognize these symptoms is vital.

The Signs –

• 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 not painful. It is often described as “chest pressure,” where the patient often experiences squeezing, fullness, and yes, sometimes pain.
• Feeling Weak or Faint
• Pain in the jaw, neck, and or back
• Pain or numbness in one arm
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Now that you know the signs, pay attention. If you or someone around you begins exhibiting signs, ask them how they are feeling. If it matches this list, call 911 immediately.

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. www.tampacardio.com