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Common Symptoms of Heart Attack
We all think we know the symptoms of a heart attack. After all, we've seen it on TV often enough: the actor grabs his chest and falls to the ground. The truth is that heart attacks can vary from extreme attacks to ones with much more subtle symptoms. Heart attacks can start slowly with symptoms that can be mistaken for something else, and gradually get worse. Or the pain may come and go. The point is that not all heart attacks have sudden, severe symptoms. Whenever you have symptoms that may be a heart attack, call 911 immediately! Don't decide to wait and see if the symptoms go away. Prompt treatment is your best chance of avoiding serious damage to your heart.
MEN'S HEART ATTACKS
The symptoms of a complete cardiac arrest are extreme and obvious:
- Losing consciousness - passing out;
- Cyanosis, meaning a lack of oxygen in the blood causing a bluish tint to the skin;
- Pupils in the eyes are dilated; or
- Pulse may be absent.
Symptoms of a heart attack may not be that extreme. Heart attacks often involve pain in the upper body or chest.
- Chest pain. Patients often describe pain that can be either constant or intermittent in the middle of their chests. The pain is a squeezing, or a fullness, a crushing pain, or a more generalized uncomfortable sensation.
Heart attacks can commonly cause pain in other parts of the upper body such as: pain or numbness and tingling in one or both arms, or pain that radiates down the arm; stomach pain; back pain; neck pain; or jaw pain.
Heart attacks can cause more unexpected symptoms of which a patient needs to be aware. Some of these symptoms are:
- Excessive sweating or breaking out in a cold sweat;
- Extreme fatigue;
- Upset stomach or vomiting;
- Shortness of breath;
- Feeling anxious or panicky;
- Paleness;
- Palpitations;
- Feeling light headed or faint.
WOMEN'S HEART ATTACKS
Women having heart attacks may suffer from the severe symptoms listed above, or from the classic sign of a heart attack: chest pain. But women often experience heart attacks a bit differently, and often report the less obvious symptoms, such as stomach pain, sweating, or fainting.
- Frequently, women think their heart attacks are only indigestion.
- Women wait longer to call for help when having a heart attack. Do not delay in calling for aid. Better a false alarm than an untreated heart attack.
- The health care industry has a pattern of failing to take women's heart symptoms seriously enough. Many women every year have heart attacks that are not diagnosed, or where the diagnosis is delayed. Contact Fuller & Fuller, Attorneys, for a free evaluation if you are concerned that this happened to you or someone you love.
Remember, heart disease is the number one killer of women in this country. You can take charge of your health care by reducing your risk factors, knowing the symptoms of a heart attack, getting help promptly, and making sure that your doctor gives you appropriate treatment.
Early detection and treatment of heart attacks can prevent serious heart damage. If you are concerned that your doctor did not prevent, detect or treat your heart attack soon enough, please contact Fuller & Fuller, Attorneys, for a free evaluation of your claim . Fuller & Fuller is a family of medical malpractice lawyers serving residents of Washington and Oregon.
Fuller & Fuller is a family of medical malpractice and serious injury lawyers serving residents of Washington and Oregon.
