What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
If you are having any one of the symptoms described below that lasts for more than 5 minutes, SEEK EMERGENCY TREATMENT (CALL 911) WITHOUT DELAY. These symptoms could be the signs of a heart attack (also called myocardial infarction or MI) and immediate treatment is essential.
Although most women and men report symptoms of chest pain with a heart attack, women are slightly more likely than men to report unusual symptoms. Those who have more vague or less typical "heart" symptoms have reported the following:
In a multi-center study of 515 women who had an acute myocardial infarction (MI), the most frequently reported symptoms were unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, indigestion and anxiety. The majority of women (78%) reported at least one symptom for more than one month before their heart attack.
Lessons learned:
Some people have a heart attack without having any symptoms (a "silent" myocardial infarction). A silent MI can occur among all patients, though it is more common among women or people with diabetes. A silent MI may be diagnosed during a routine doctor's exam.
If You Take Nitroglycerin
If you have been prescribed nitroglycerin and you experience angina, stop what you are doing and rest. Take one nitroglycerin tablet and let it dissolve under your tongue, or if using the spray form, spray it under your tongue. Wait 5 minutes. If you still have angina after 5 minutes, call 911 to get emergency help.
For patients diagnosed with chronic stable angina:If you experience angina, take one nitroglycerin (NTG) tablet and let it dissolve under your tongue. If chest discomfort or pain is not improved or getting worse 5 min after one dose, call 9-1-1 immediately to get emergency help before taking additional NTG. If symptoms are much improved by 1 dose of NTG, you may repeat the dose every 5 min for up to 3 tablets over 15 minutes. If you still have angina after taking 3 doses of nitroglycerin, call 911 to get emergency help.
References:
Use of aspirin with unstable chest pain:After calling 911, emergency personnel may tell you to chew one full (325 mg) aspirin slowly, if you do not have a history of aspirin allergy or bleeding. Aspirin is especially effective if taken within 30 minutes after the start of symptoms. Do NOT take an aspirin for symptoms of stroke. Continue to take your nitroglycerin as prescribed.
At the first signs of a heart attack, call for emergency treatment (911). Do not wait for your symptoms to "go away." Early recognition and treatment of heart attack symptoms can reduce the risk of heart damage and allow treatment to be started immediately. Even if you're not sure your symptoms are those of a heart attack, you should still be evaluated.
The best time to treat a heart attack is within one hour of the onset of the first symptoms. When a heart attack occurs, there's a limited amount of time before significant and long-lasting damage occurs to the heart muscle. If a large area of the heart is injured during the heart attack, full recovery becomes much more difficult.
Studies show that the people who have symptoms of a heart attack often delay, or wait to seek treatment, for longer than seven hours.
Reasons why people wait to get help:
People who delay tend to be older, female, African-American and to have a history of angina, high blood pressure or diabetes. People who delay also consult their family members or try to treat themselves first before seeking treatment.
Reasons people delay:
Waiting just a couple hours for medical help may limit your treatment options, increase the amount of damage to your heart muscle, and reduce your chance of survival.
Calling 911 is almost always the fastest way to get life-saving treatment. When you call, emergency personnel may tell you to chew an aspirin to break up a possible blood clot, if there is not a medical reason for you to avoid aspirin. When emergency help arrives, they can promptly begin treatment, and they are trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Also, you're likelier to get treated faster at the hospital if you arrive by ambulance. If you are having symptoms, do not drive yourself unless there is absolutely no other option.
Even if you've been treated for a prior heart attack or if you've had other treatments for coronary artery disease, a heart attack CAN happen again. Treatments such as medications, open heart surgery and interventional procedures DO NOT cure coronary artery disease, so it is still important to lead a healthy lifestyle.
It is important for you to be committed to leading a heart-healthy lifestyle to reduce your risk of a heart attack. Your health care team can help you achieve your goals, but it is up to you to take your medications as prescribed, make dietary changes, quit smoking, exercise regularly, keep your follow-up appointments and be an active member of the treatment team.
Share this information with your family members and caregivers so they learn to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and when to help you seek emergency treatment.
Reviewed: 06/17
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