A heart attack is a life or death situation. When someone has a heart attack, oxygen is deprived to the heart cells, and the blood supply is restricted or completely cut off. Every second counts in getting medical attention, and it is important that we all understand the symptoms.
Chest Pain – Heart attacks do not always come with a severe pain in the chest that happens all of the sudden. Most often, they start with a mild discomfort. It usually feels like pressure on the chest or a squeezing sensation. This discomfort can also be present in the arms, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Shortness of Breath – This is an indicator when someone is experiencing a heart attack. The symptom can start before any chest pain or other discomfort, and can be an early sign that someone needs to seek medical attention.
Cold Sweat – A person may also break out in a cold sweat when experiencing a heart attack. They will feel anxiety and may become dizzy while experiencing heart palpitations. Again, this could happen without chest pain or other discomfort.
Women Can Have Different Symptoms – Though men and women alike can experience any of the above symptoms of a heart attack, women can sometimes experience fatigue days prior to a heart attack, as well as nausea, vomiting, and poor sleep. These symptoms can be experienced without any chest pain at all in some women. Studies have also shown that these symptoms can occur for up to a month before a heart attack happens, so do seek medical attention if these symptoms linger.
If a Heart Attack Strikes – Knowing the symptoms is key, but it is also imperative to know what to do if someone is having a heart attack. The first thing is to call 9-1-1 to get medical help on the way as soon as possible, because every second counts. Keep aspirin on hand, because you will most likely be told to administer one as you wait for medical personnel.
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