Be Alert about Symptoms of Heart Attack

If you aren’t sure whether you have heartburn or something more serious –– like a heart attack –– you should get yourself checked out, said Padma Shri & Dr. B C Roy National Awardee, Dr. K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India and Sr. National Vice President IMA said.

The most common symptom of coronary heart disease is chest pain (angina) or discomfort, which can also occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back. People may mistake this pain for indigestion, which can be dangerous. Sometimes, it’s impossible to tell the difference between the symptoms of heartburn, angina and heart attack.

A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is severely reduced or stopped. This can result in death or disability, depending on how much of the heart muscle is damaged. Unfortunately, many people may not be aware they are having a heart attack.

There are some useful pointers that might help a person know whether they’re having a heart attack or not, but when in doubt, one should check it out.

Symptoms of a heart attack include the sudden onset of tightness, pressure, squeezing, burning or discomfort in the chest, throat, neck or either arm. When these symptoms are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, shortness of breath or a fainting sensation, Dr. Aggarwal says one should be especially suspicious that you might be having a heart attack. People who have any risk factors that may predispose them to a heart attack should be particularly cautious.

Some clues
Heart attack pain is never pinpointed.
Heart attack pain never lasts less than 30 seconds.
If you smoke, have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, are overweight or have a strong family history of heart disease and have any symptom related to the chest or heart, you should be alert.