Signs of a Heart Attack

A heart attack, or Myocardial Infarction, occurs when blood supply to a portion of the heart muscle is interrupted and the muscle tissue begins to die, or necrose, because of a lack of oxygen. Blood supply is usually interrupted in a heart attack by a small clot forming in one of the coronary arteries feeding the heart muscle. The clot usually forms at a very narrow spot caused by cholesterol plaque buildup.

High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, or a family history of coronary artery disease or heart attacks all put you at higher risk for a heart attack of your own.

Classically, the signs of a heart attack include chest pain. The pain can be mild to severe and is often a pressure sensation like, "an elephant", sitting on your chest. The pain can instead be sharp, dull, burning, or feel like indigestion or heartburn. Doctors consider any of these feelings or sensations as heart related "pain" even though some people don't think a pressure is a pain. It is very important that you understand that any one of the sensations described could be caused by a heart attack or the condition that can lead to a heart attack called angina pectoris. Angina pectoris, or simply angina, is the "pain" of the heart muscle that is starving for oxygen due to decrease blood flow. Tissue that is starved for oxygen begins to hurt. Think about the pain that occurs if you put a tight rubber band around your finger. Well, when the lack of oxygen (called ischemia) occurs in the heart muscle, the pain is called angina.

Heart attacks are often accompanied by one or several other illness-like conditions that we call Associated Cardiac Signs and Symptoms. These happen as a result of the pain or the impaired function of the heart muscle. With a lack of blood and oxygen getting to a portion of the heart muscle, that portion cannot function efficiently.

Associated signs and symptoms often include one or more of the following:

Shortness of breath
Sweating - clamminess to dripping wet
Nausea and sometimes vomiting
Lightheadedness or almost fainting
Marked weakness

Sometimes people will feel palpitations, or a fluttering in the chest along with the pain. Often the pain will radiate to the shoulder, the back, the jaw or down the arm. The arm can ache, feel numb, heavy, or tingly. This radiation of "pain" can be on one side - the left, right, or both! This is something that many people tend to confuse and they will ignore the radiation of pain if it's down the right arm. This can be a very costly, if not deadly mistake!

Remember, heart attack is still the number one medical killer of men and women in the United States.

It is also important to remember that some conditions like diabetes can mask the pain and eliminate it all together. Therefore, in those patients, feeling extra weak and having some of the associated symptoms mentioned above may be the only clue that a heart attack is in progress.

We have a saying in the ER: "Time is myocardium!"

This means that the quicker you get the proper care for your heart attack, the less heart muscle will be damaged and the better the outcome. This can mean the difference between having a mild heart attack with only minimal problems, to having a major one associated with severe, debilitating side effects for the rest of your life. It can also mean the difference between surviving a major heart attack and dying from one.

If you or someone you know is having any of the above-mentioned signs or symptoms, you should call 911.

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