Heart attack

Diagnosis Ideally, a health care provider should screen you during regular checkups for risk factors that can lead to a heart attack. A heart attack is often diagnosed in an emergency setting. If you've had or are having a heart attack, care providers will take immediate steps to treat your condition. If you're able to answer questions, you may be asked about your symptoms and medical history. Diagnosis of a heart attack includes checking blood pressure, pulse and temperature. Tests are done to see how the heart is beating and to check overall heart health. Tests Tests to diagnose a heart attack include: • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This first test done to diagnose a heart attack records electrical signals as they travel through the heart. Sticky patches (electrodes) are attached to the chest and sometimes the arms and legs. Signals are recorded as waves displayed on a monitor or printed on paper. An ECG can show if you are having or have had a heart attack. • Blood tests. Certain heart proteins slowly leak into the blood after heart damage from a heart attack. Blood tests can be done to check for these proteins (cardiac markers). • Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray shows the condition and size of the heart and lungs. • Echocardiogram. Sound waves (ultrasound) create images of the moving heart. This test can show how blood moves through the heart and heart valves. An echocardiogram can help identify whether an area of your heart has been damaged. • Coronary catheterization (...

Catch the signs early Don’t wait to get help if you experience any • Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes – or it may go away and then return. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. • Shortness of breath. This can occur with or without chest discomfort. • Other signs. Other possible signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. Symptoms vary between men and women As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is Don’t hesitate to call 911 Learn the signs of heart attack and, even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out. Minutes matter. Fast action can save lives –maybe your own. Call 911 if you experience heart attack warning signs. It's almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. An emergency medical services (EMS) team can begin treatment when they arrive. EMS staff are also trained to provide resuscitation efforts to someone whose heart has stopped. People with chest pain who arrive by ambulance may also receive faster treatment at the hospital. For many reasons, it’s best to call 911 so that an experienced EMS team can begin treatment and arrange rapid transport to the emergency room. Learn more: • Heart attack warning signs: • •

Share on Pinterest ljubaphoto/Getty Images In some people, heart attack symptoms may appear gradually, and in others, they occur suddenly. Not everyone will experience all the symptoms of a heart attack, and symptoms According to the Chest pain or discomfort Chest pain is a During this stage of a heart attack, people may experience the following sensations in their chest: • pain • pressure • aching • heaviness Some people also say that they experience a sense of tightness that can feel as though they are “being squeezed.” Sometimes, these sensations can appear suddenly and intensely. This happens when the blockage occurs suddenly. If the blockage is slowly progressing over time, then the symptoms appear gradually. In these cases, people may mistake the sensations for Anyone who experiences symptoms that occur with exertion and resolve with rest, even if they occur gradually, should always discuss them with a doctor, especially if they progress over time. However, people should not wait to seek medical care for their chest pain. They should seek medical treatment immediately, particularly if other signs of a heart attack occur as well. Pain or discomfort in other areas The sensations that a person may experience in the chest can spread or radiate to • back • jaw • neck • stomach • arm or shoulder Shortness of breath A person can experience breathing difficulties before or during a heart attack. Shortness of breath can occur due to increasing pressure in the heart or as a sy...

Heart attacks — also called Chest pain is the most common warning sign of a heart attack. But there can be other symptoms, too, like lightheadedness, nausea, and shortness of breath. Symptoms can be severe or mild, and are often different from one person to the next. Some people may not even notice any warning signs of a heart attack. This article will take a closer look at the causes, symptoms, and risk factors of a heart attack, as well as how a heart attack is diagnosed and treated. Share on Pinterest Illustration by Bailey Mariner When your heart isn’t getting the blood and oxygen it needs to function properly, it can put you at a higher risk of heart failure and other serious complications. A heart attack is a life threatening medical emergency. The sooner you can get medical treatment that restores normal blood flow to your heart, the better your chance of a successful outcome. General symptoms for a heart attack can include: • chest pain or discomfort • • pain in your arm, shoulder, or neck • • • • • upper body pain • trouble breathing Anyone experiencing any of the above heart attack symptoms should contact emergency services immediately. How heart attack symptoms vary between men and women We use “women” and “men” in this article to reflect the terms that have been historically used to gender people. But your gender identity may not align with how your body experiences symptoms of a heart attack. Your doctor can better help you understand how your specific circums...

What Is a Heart Attack? A heart attack happens when something blocks the blood flow to your heart so it can’t get the oxygen it needs. It’s a medical emergency. Call 911 right away at the first sign of any symptoms. Don’t wait to see if the symptoms pass. Heart attacks are also called myocardial infarctions (MIs). "Myo" means muscle, "cardial" refers to the heart, and "infarction" means death of tissue because of a lack of blood supply. This tissue death can cause lasting damage to your heart muscle.. Heart Attack Symptoms Symptoms of a heart attack include: • Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, tightness, squeezing, or pain in your chest or arm or below your breastbone • Discomfort that goes into your back, jaw, throat, or arm • Fullness, indigestion, or a choking feeling (it may feel like heartburn) • Sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, or dizziness • Severe weakness, anxiety, fatigue, or • Fast or uneven heartbeat Symptoms can be different from person to person or from one heart attack to another. Women are more likely to have these heart attack symptoms: • Unusual fatigue • Shortness of breath • Nausea or vomiting • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Discomfort in your gut. It may feel like indigestion. • Discomfort in the neck, shoulder, or upper back With some heart attacks, you won’t notice any symptoms (a "silent" myocardial infarction). This is more common in people who have diabetes. Facts About Heart Attacks More than a million Americans have heart attacks each year. It...