Know the Warning Signs of Heart Attack
While both John C. Lincoln hospitals continue to advance their cardiac capabilities, surviving a heart attack also depends on how well you recognize and respond to symptoms.
A heart attack is an urgent message from the heart that it’s starved for oxygen. When a clot blocks a heart vessel, oxygen-rich blood can’t reach the heart. The heart muscle begins to die, and symptoms of a heart attack begin.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most start slowly with mild pain and discomfort.
Call 911 immediately if the following symptoms occur for two minutes or more:
- Sudden shortness of breath.
- Sudden sweating or flu-like symptoms, including nausea, clamminess or cold sweats.
- Unusual fatigue, light-headedness, weakness or dizziness.
- Pain in the upper back, neck and jaw, or between the shoulder blades.
- Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. This sensation can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or fullness.
- Anxiety or a feeling of doom.
- For those with angina: Any change in the frequency, duration or intensity of symptoms, which do not respond to nitroglycerin.
Other Factors to Consider
Time is a crucial factor in a heart attack because drugs that break down blocks in the arteries (thrombolytic therapy) should be given within the first 1 to 2 hours.
Symptoms in women are often different from those in men. Therefore, it can be more difficult to diagnose a woman’s heart attack.
When treatment is received during the first hour of a heart attack (known as "the golden hour"), the chances of recovery are greatly increased. This fact underscores the importance of knowing what signs to look for. As mentioned above, a heart attack often starts with mild symptoms that may not be painful.
Steps You Can Take on Your Own
Call 911 immediately if you, or someone you know, experience the warning signs of a heart attack. Tell the dispatcher where you are, what’s happening and don’t hang up the phone until you’re told to do so.
Help the victim get into a relaxed sitting position, with the legs up and bent at the knees, to ease strain on the heart.
Loosen tight clothing around the victim’s neck and waist, and remain calm.
Learn CPR. Knowing CPR can save the life of someone you know.