The Tell-Tale Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack
People often expect a heart attack to be
dramatic like it is in the movies, but the reality tends to be different
and can even go unnoticed. Here are the tell-tale signs and symptoms of
a heart attack:
What happens during a heart attack?
During a heart attack, the blood flow to
the heart muscle is either reduced or completely stops. This typically
happens because of a blood clot that is blocking an artery. When the
heart muscle does not get oxygen-rich blood, it ceases to work.
Some common heart attack symptoms
• A heart attack often causes chest pain.
• There is a feeling of fullness or a clasping pain in the center of the
chest. Most victims describe the pain as akin to an elephant standing
on the chest (extreme pain). It usually lasts for about 15 minutes.
• One also experiences shooting pain in the shoulders, neck, arm, back
and sometimes even the teeth and jaw.
• One finds increasing episodes of chest pain.
• Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen.
• Shortness of breath.
• The victim might experience heavy sweating.
• Since the heart’s pumping action is severely impaired during a severe
heart attack, the victim might lose his/her consciousness.
* In rare cases, as in patients who are diabetic, the heart attack may
not be very painful, and sometimes can even be entirely painless.
Some symptoms that may also appear include:
• Pain in the abdomen
• Heart burn
• Unusual tiredness
• Nausea
• Tightness or pain in the neck, shoulders or upper back
Heart attack symptoms are not the same for everyone
Not everyone who has a heart attack has the
same symptoms. Many a time, we also tend to ignore a heart attack
thinking it might be mere abdominal discomfort due to gas pains or
indigestion. If you have more than a few of the symptoms listed above,
then you are likely to be having one. Get emergency help immediately.
What to do in case of a heart attack?
• Rush to a hospital, immediately. If you recognize that you or someone
around you is having a heart attack, get immediate medical help.
• Take Aspirin: As soon as you recognize it is an attack, crush an
aspirin, dissolve it in water and make the person drink it.
• Emergency numbers: Every office and home must keep a list of emergency
numbers like that of an ambulance service and hospital.
A heart attack is different from cardiac arrest
Do not confuse a heart attack with cardiac arrest. In the case of
cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops. It occurs due to an electrical
disturbance that obstructs the heart’s pumping function, which results
in stopping blood flow to the rest of the body. Below are two fact files
detailing the differences between a heart attack and cardiac arrest:
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Fact File
SCA is a chaotic electrical condition of the heart resulting in the loss
of blood flow to the brain and body. The most common form of SCA is
ventricular fibrillation.
Causes
Electrical impulses of the heart become chaotic due to a blow to the
chest or other (sometimes-unknown) health-related issues. As a result,
the heart stops beating regularly and begins to flutter rapidly.
Symptoms
Typically, there are no symptoms of SCA. Usually, the first indication
of SCA is when the victim faints. The second sign is breathing
cessation.
Victim's Response
A sudden cardiac arrest victim always loses consciousness from lack of
oxygen.
Risk of Death
A victim of SCA will die unless treated. If
left untreated, the chances of survival decrease by 10% per minute.
Typically, permanent brain damage occurs within 5-7 minutes.
Treatment
The only treatment for SCA is defibrillation from an automated external
defibrillator (AED). A shock from the AED stops the chaotic electrical
activity and allows the heart's sinus node to resume a normal electrical
impulse.
Heart Attack Fact File
The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction: a blockage
of the coronary arteries leading to a decrease in blood flow. When this
happens, the heart muscles die or become permanently damaged.
Causes
Plaque made of cholesterol and other cells builds up in the walls of the
heart’s arteries. When the build-up is great enough, the plaque creates
a blockage, known as an occlusion, which restricts the blood supply to
the heart muscle.
Symptoms
Warning signs of a heart attack include a tightening feeling in the
chest, a sore or numb left arm, lower back, neck, and/or jaw. Other
signs include bad indigestion, a feeling that something heavy is sitting
on your chest, and shortness of breath.
Victim's Response
The victim of a heart attack is usually conscious and alert.
Risk of Death
Most victims can recover fully and lead normal lives, but about a third
of heart attacks are deadly. A heart attack can lead to sudden cardiac
arrest.
Treatment
One treatment of a heart attack can be angioplasty, which opens up the
blocked vessels with a medical balloon. Afterwards, a stent can be
placed in the artery to help keep it open. Other treatments include
clot-busting drugs called thrombolytics or nitroglycerin to reduce chest
pain.
So, remember this information, and most of all, remember the ABCs of
heart care: Avoiding Tobacco, stress and fatty foods, Being more active
and Choosing the right nutrition and lifestyle that will keep your heart
healthy!