Heart attack symptoms

Overview Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the sudden loss of all heart activity due to an irregular heart rhythm. Breathing stops. The person becomes unconscious. Without immediate treatment, sudden cardiac arrest can lead to death. Emergency treatment for sudden cardiac arrest includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and shocks to the heart with a device called an automated external defibrillator (AED). Survival is possible with fast, appropriate medical care. Symptoms Symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest are immediate and severe and include: • Sudden collapse. • No pulse. • No breathing. • Loss of consciousness. Sometimes other symptoms occur before sudden cardiac arrest. These might include: • Chest discomfort. • Shortness of breath. • Weakness. • Fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart called palpitations. But sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning. When to see a doctor When the heart stops, the lack of oxygen-rich blood can quickly cause death or permanent brain damage. Call 911 or emergency medical services for these symptoms: • Chest pain or discomfort. • Feeling of a pounding heartbeat. • Rapid or irregular heartbeats. • Unexplained wheezing. • Shortness of breath. • Fainting or near fainting. • Lightheadedness or dizziness. If you see someone who's unconscious and not breathing, call 911 or local emergency services. Then start CPR. The American Heart Association recommends doing CPR with hard and fast chest compressions. Use an automated external def...

A heart attack happens when there is a loss of blood supply to part of the heart muscle, often due to a blockage in a nearby artery. Symptoms include pain in the chest. It is a medical emergency that needs hospital treatment. A person who is experiencing a heart attack — or myocardial infarction — will feel pain in their chest and other parts of their body, as well as other symptoms. Spotting the early signs of a heart attack and getting prompt treatment is crucial and can save a person’s life. A heart attack This article looks at how heart attacks happen and how to treat and prevent them. Share on Pinterest As heart attacks can be fatal, it is crucial to recognize the warnings as soon as possible and contact emergency services. Symptoms • a feeling of pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing, or aching in the chest • pain that spreads to the arms, neck, jaw, or back • a feeling of crushing or heaviness in the chest • a feeling similar to heartburn or indigestion • nausea and sometimes vomiting • feeling clammy and sweaty • shortness of breath • feeling lightheaded or dizzy • in some cases, anxiety that can feel similar to a panic attack • coughing or wheezing, if fluid builds up in the lungs The symptoms can vary in their order and duration — they may last several days or come and go suddenly. The following may also develop: • Hypoxemia: This involves low levels of oxygen in the blood. • Pulmonary edema: This involves • Cardiogenic shock: This involves Females and males somet...

If you have any of these signs, call 911 and get to a hospital right away. • Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. • Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. • As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is We’ve all seen the movie scenes where a man gasps, clutches his chest and falls to the ground. In reality, a heart attack victim could easily be a woman, and the scene may not be that dramatic. Even when the signs are subtle, the consequences can be deadly, especially if the person doesn’t get help right away. ‘I thought I had the flu’ Even though A Many women think the signs of a heart attack are unmistakable — but they can be subtler and sometimes confusing. Some women experiencing a heart attack describe upper back pressure that feels like squeezing or a rope being tied around them. Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting are other symptoms. Take care of yourself Heart disease can be mostly preventable. So be sure to: • Schedule an appointment with your health care professional to learn your risk for heart disease. • • Aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (such as jogging), or a combinati...

A heart attack is scary. If you’ve had one, or are close to someone who has, you’re not alone. Many people survive a heart attack and go on to enjoy productive lives. As you work toward recovery, the frequently asked questions below can help you better understand what’s happened, and how your heart can heal. Knowledge is power. So use this information to live healthier and longer. Heart attack questions and answers What is a heart attack? Your heart muscle needs oxygen to survive. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or cut off completely. This happens when coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood flow become narrowed from a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances that together are called plaque. This slow process is known as When plaque within a heart artery breaks, a blood clot forms around the plaque. This blood clot can block the blood flow through the artery to the heart muscle. About every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack. Why didn’t I have any warning? The process of atherosclerosis may have no symptoms in its early stages. But when an artery is narrowed by over 70%, muscle pain or cramps may occur when tissue needs more oxygen than it’s able to receive. When a coronary artery narrows and constricts blood flow, other nearby blood vessels that serve the heart sometimes expand to compensate, which may explain why there may be no warning signs. Such a ne...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. That’s certainly the classic presentation, says cardiologist “A minority of patients have those classical Symptoms you never suspected So, what does a heart attack really feel like? According to Dr. Menon, patients most often report: • Heartburn-like chest pain. It’s quite common for heart attacks to feel like • Shortness of breath. Some heart attacks don’t cause pain at all. These • Profound fatigue. This symptom is most common in elderly patients and can be misdiagnosed as a flu-like illness. • Nausea and sweating. While these symptoms can come with heavy chest pain, they also can occur by themselves,especially in women. These symptoms commonly accompany heart attacks to the inferior wall (bottom) of the heart. When to call 911 Heartburn, breathlessness and other subtle symptoms aren’t always heart attacks. How can you tell a minor ailment from a heart attack? “It’s challenging,” admits Dr. Menon. “And that’s a big reason why people don’t get to the doctor sooner when they’re having a heart attack.” In general, call 911 if: • Symptoms occur suddenly and persist for more than five to 10 minutes. • Shortness of breath and chest discomfort occur while you’re at rest. • You develop symptoms and are a middle-aged or older adult and have a history of smoking, diabetes or a strong It will take a clinical evalua...