How To Detect A Heart Attack
The first hour of a heart attack is known as the "golden hour." If you get help during that first hour, your chances of recovery are greatly improved. Yet many people hesitate to get help when they first experience symptoms. They're afraid of the embarrassment of going to the emergency room and finding that nothing is wrong. So, it is important that you know the symptoms that may indicate that a heart attack is in progress.
Many of the symptoms of heart attack can be brought on by digestive disturbances or other less serious conditions. But only sophisticated medical tests can determine for sure if you're having a heart attack. Heart attacks may vary from person to person, and from heart attack to heart attack. Women, for example, may experience "atypical' symptoms such as pain between the shoulder blades rather than crushing chest pain. This may result in them delaying seeking treatment. That is a great mistake.
Heart attack is one instance where getting treatment promptly can mean the difference between life and death. If you are in doubt, err on the side of being more cautious and go to the emergency room and get yourself checked. We will try to describe some of the most common characteristics of heart attack here. Before that we will introduce the other pain called angina which is often precursor to a heart attack.
Angina Pectoris or Angina
Angina pectoris is a precursor to a heart attack. Usually, what happens is this: During physical exertion, during stress or an emotionally charged situation, in cold weather or after a big meal, the heart beats faster. Heart requires more oxygenated blood flow to the heart muscle to maintain the beating. But if the channels by which the blood and oxygen flow to the heart are narrowed, not enough nutrients get to the heart muscle tissue. It suffers oxygen deficiency, and the heart tells you about this with a pain called angina pectoris.
The pain is quite distinct. It is described as: "a heavy, strangulating, suffocating experience-far more intense than anything like indigestion, chest wall injuries, pleurisy or spasms of the esophagus that you are familiar with. The pain may seem to start under the breastbone, on the left side of the chest, and sometimes radiates out to other places: throat, neck, jaw, left shoulder and arm and, occasionally, on to the right side.
Angina is an intense, scary episode. But with rest and calm (or by placing nitroglycerin or another kind of nitrate under the tongue), angina attacks usually go away in about 15 minutes or so. If they last longer than that, go to the hospital and have a thorough check up. Long-lasting angina attacks may be the prelude to heart attacks.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Differences between heartburn and heart attack symptoms
Differences between heartburn and heart attack symptoms
Heartburn and heart attack, though alike in some ways, are very different and have pronounced differences in their symptoms too. Heartburn is this searing and burning pain you will undoubtedly experience that goes down into your throat, and into your chest area. It is a very painful sensation. The pain can also radiate all through the chest, which puts the idea in your mind of a heart attack. If you lay down flat, as I well know myself, the heartburn pain can become worse.
If you are having heartburn, and take some antacids for it, you should experience relief within minutes and the symptoms should quiet down a lot, or disappear altogether. Proton pump inhibitors are good drugs to cure this condition, and if you really are having heartburn, they will.
Now, getting into a heart attack. That is a whole different scenario. A heart attack can occur when there is insufficient blood supply going through the heart. As a result, there are key symptoms which are progressive, unlike that of heartburn.
A heart attack causes a squeezing type of pressure inside the chest. It will feel as though someone is sitting right on top of you. That isn't tru with heartburn. Besides the intense chest pain, you will have a feeling of panic and anxiety, and start to sweat a lot. The pains will radiate down both arms too.
The person having an actual heart attack will appear a sickly pale color, have a heart beat that is way out of line that they will likely feel, and also pass out. Another very common sign with a heart attack is nausea and an upset stomach. While this can happen in acid reflux, in a heart attack not only are you nauseated, but are having all of the other progressive symptoms which I described. Experiencing shoulder pain along with vertigo is not unusual either in the event of a heart attack.
Diagnosing a heart attack is done by taking an electrocardiogram followed by blood testing to check on the levels of enzymes. The levels of enzymes in a heart attack will appear to be abnormal.
In any event, if you feel squeezing chest pains accompanied by nausea, and other symptoms, it is best to go to your nearest emergency room, and have someone drive you or call an ambulance if you are feeling worse by the minute. Take an aspirin for the pain. This is often life-saving for many people
Heartburn and heart attack, though alike in some ways, are very different and have pronounced differences in their symptoms too. Heartburn is this searing and burning pain you will undoubtedly experience that goes down into your throat, and into your chest area. It is a very painful sensation. The pain can also radiate all through the chest, which puts the idea in your mind of a heart attack. If you lay down flat, as I well know myself, the heartburn pain can become worse.
If you are having heartburn, and take some antacids for it, you should experience relief within minutes and the symptoms should quiet down a lot, or disappear altogether. Proton pump inhibitors are good drugs to cure this condition, and if you really are having heartburn, they will.
Now, getting into a heart attack. That is a whole different scenario. A heart attack can occur when there is insufficient blood supply going through the heart. As a result, there are key symptoms which are progressive, unlike that of heartburn.
A heart attack causes a squeezing type of pressure inside the chest. It will feel as though someone is sitting right on top of you. That isn't tru with heartburn. Besides the intense chest pain, you will have a feeling of panic and anxiety, and start to sweat a lot. The pains will radiate down both arms too.
The person having an actual heart attack will appear a sickly pale color, have a heart beat that is way out of line that they will likely feel, and also pass out. Another very common sign with a heart attack is nausea and an upset stomach. While this can happen in acid reflux, in a heart attack not only are you nauseated, but are having all of the other progressive symptoms which I described. Experiencing shoulder pain along with vertigo is not unusual either in the event of a heart attack.
Diagnosing a heart attack is done by taking an electrocardiogram followed by blood testing to check on the levels of enzymes. The levels of enzymes in a heart attack will appear to be abnormal.
In any event, if you feel squeezing chest pains accompanied by nausea, and other symptoms, it is best to go to your nearest emergency room, and have someone drive you or call an ambulance if you are feeling worse by the minute. Take an aspirin for the pain. This is often life-saving for many people
Heart attacks are dangers of heart disease
Heart attacks are but one of the dangers of heart disease. There are others than can strike at any age and any fitness level. This was something Tracy learned when she took her 16 year old daughter to a routine doctor appointment.
Tracy was shocked when her daughter mentioned that sometimes she feels like she can't breathe and has passed out. Tracy thought it was asthma related. Heart disease isn't something you think about when it comes to your 16 year old active daughter.
The doctor ran several tests and three days later delivered the news that no mother wants to here. Tracy's daughter was diagnosed with Bradycardia and Tachycardia.
Bradycardia means your heart beats very slowly. It can be a sign of a very healthy person or it could be a sign of a problem with the heart's electrical system. In severe cases the heart doesn't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. It can be life threatening.
The symptoms of Bradycardia are feeling dizzy, lightheaded, breathless, tired, having heart palpitations, having trouble concentrating and fainting. It can be caused by aging, heart disease, thyroid problems or medications. Your symptoms may be mild.
Tachycardia is the opposite. It is a fast heart rhythm that starts in the lower part of your heart. The heart beats too rapidly and the heart is unable to pump enough oxygen rich blood to the rest of the body. The symptoms mirror Bradycardia. Some people who have short bouts of tachycardia do not have any symptoms.
Treatments for both can include medication and having surgery to implant a pacemaker. The underlying cause must be found and treated. One underlying cause for both could be a heart attack.
Did you know many women don't have chest pain during a heart attack? Heart attack symptoms in women differ than those traditionally felt by men.
Heart attack symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness or unusual fatigue, pain or discomfort in your stomach, nausea, vomiting or dizziness. These symptoms are a continuous theme for women with heart disease.
Women tend to be misdiagnosed more often than men. Because of the absence of chest pain the doctors may assume it is stomach flu. This is where you need to voice your concerns. Always be sure to inform them of any family history of heart disease. Don't assume they will read your chart. Speak up! You must become your own advocate.
Tracy was lucky because her daughter's doctor took her symptoms seriously and ran the necessary tests. An EKG alone may not indicate heart disease. A 24 hour heart monitor, which is a portable EKG might be needed. Two years have passed and Tracy's daughter is doing well. Tracy does not take her daughter's health for granted and is ever vigilant. She knows not to ignore the warning signs, will you?
Tracy was shocked when her daughter mentioned that sometimes she feels like she can't breathe and has passed out. Tracy thought it was asthma related. Heart disease isn't something you think about when it comes to your 16 year old active daughter.
The doctor ran several tests and three days later delivered the news that no mother wants to here. Tracy's daughter was diagnosed with Bradycardia and Tachycardia.
Bradycardia means your heart beats very slowly. It can be a sign of a very healthy person or it could be a sign of a problem with the heart's electrical system. In severe cases the heart doesn't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. It can be life threatening.
The symptoms of Bradycardia are feeling dizzy, lightheaded, breathless, tired, having heart palpitations, having trouble concentrating and fainting. It can be caused by aging, heart disease, thyroid problems or medications. Your symptoms may be mild.
Tachycardia is the opposite. It is a fast heart rhythm that starts in the lower part of your heart. The heart beats too rapidly and the heart is unable to pump enough oxygen rich blood to the rest of the body. The symptoms mirror Bradycardia. Some people who have short bouts of tachycardia do not have any symptoms.
Treatments for both can include medication and having surgery to implant a pacemaker. The underlying cause must be found and treated. One underlying cause for both could be a heart attack.
Did you know many women don't have chest pain during a heart attack? Heart attack symptoms in women differ than those traditionally felt by men.
Heart attack symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness or unusual fatigue, pain or discomfort in your stomach, nausea, vomiting or dizziness. These symptoms are a continuous theme for women with heart disease.
Women tend to be misdiagnosed more often than men. Because of the absence of chest pain the doctors may assume it is stomach flu. This is where you need to voice your concerns. Always be sure to inform them of any family history of heart disease. Don't assume they will read your chart. Speak up! You must become your own advocate.
Tracy was lucky because her daughter's doctor took her symptoms seriously and ran the necessary tests. An EKG alone may not indicate heart disease. A 24 hour heart monitor, which is a portable EKG might be needed. Two years have passed and Tracy's daughter is doing well. Tracy does not take her daughter's health for granted and is ever vigilant. She knows not to ignore the warning signs, will you?
Symptoms of a heart attack
Symptoms of a heart attack
In the movies, a heart attack is portrayed by the actor clutching at their chest and then dropping down. This is not the case in real life, while chest pain is the most frequent and most easily recognised symptom of a heart attack it is not the only symptom.
The symptoms of a heart attack include:
* pain, heaviness or discomfort in the chest behind the breastbone lasting for more than 10 to 15 minutes;
* pain radiating to other parts of the body including the jaw, arms, back and neck;
* the chest discomfort or pain being accompanied by nausea or sweating,
* a sudden onset of difficult breathing; and
* feeling unwell accompanied by any of the above symptoms.
In the movies, a heart attack is portrayed by the actor clutching at their chest and then dropping down. This is not the case in real life, while chest pain is the most frequent and most easily recognised symptom of a heart attack it is not the only symptom.
The symptoms of a heart attack include:
* pain, heaviness or discomfort in the chest behind the breastbone lasting for more than 10 to 15 minutes;
* pain radiating to other parts of the body including the jaw, arms, back and neck;
* the chest discomfort or pain being accompanied by nausea or sweating,
* a sudden onset of difficult breathing; and
* feeling unwell accompanied by any of the above symptoms.
How does the heart work?
There is a killer that stalks our homes targeting smokers, the overweight and the sedentary. It has a preference for middle aged and older human beings. It is the heart attack. Coronary heart disease, including the heart attack is the leading cause of death in America .
How does the heart work?The heart is a muscular pump which transports blood throughout the body. To transport blood the heart needs a constant supply of energy which it obtains from glucose and oxygen in the blood. The heart has a left and right side, separated by a wall. The left side of the heart is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood which has collected in the left atrium around your body via the left ventricle and the right side of the heart collects the blood on its return from its journey around the body, pumps the blood into the lungs for oxygenation and then returns the blood to the left atrium for pumping around the body. The coronary artery is the main artery from the heart and sends blood throughout the body; it is approximately the width of a hosepipe.
Heart attack
A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when a blood clot (coronary thrombosis or coronary occlusion) forms in the coronary artery and blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. The oxygen starved heart muscle is then damaged and unable to act as an efficient pump.
Heart attacks predominately occur in people who have coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease results in narrowing of the arteries through the formation of plaque. When arteries are narrowed by plaque, it makes it difficult for blood to travel through the arteries and if a blood clot forms at the narrowed point, it can block the artery and cause a heart attack.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)