Women are more likely than men to report these less typical symptoms of heart attack, and some patients have described feeling as though they are developing the flu. Heart attacks are diagnosed with procedures such as coronary angiogram and PTCA (coronary balloon angioplasty), and clot dissolving drugs are available that can quickly open blocked arteries in order to restore circulation to the heart and limit heart muscle damage. In order to optimally benefit heart attack victims and limit the extent of heart damage, these treatments to open blocked arteries should be given early during a heart attack. Blood pressure is not a reliable measurement of whether one is having a heart attack. Blood pressure during a heart attack can be low, normal, or elevated.
Your breathing and your heart pumping blood effectively are very closely related. Your heart pumps blood so it can circulate to your tissues as well as get oxygen from your lungs. If your heart canâ€™t pump blood well (as is the case with a heart attack), you can feel short of breath. A heart attack can cause exhaustion due to the extra stress on your heart to try to pump while an area of blood flow is blocked. If you often feel tired or exhausted for no reason, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
But if you have pain or pressure in the center of your chest that spreads up into your throat or jaw, it could be a sign of a heart attack. Call 911 and seek medical attention to make sure everything is all right. Heartburn, angina and heart attack may feel very much alike. Even experienced doctors can’t always tell the difference from your medical history and a physical exam.
What does a heart attack feel like?
After having a heart attack, you’re at risk of having another one. Many people do not recognise their next heart attack as the symptoms may be different. Once they receive professional medical care, most people who have a heart attack make a full recovery.
Heart disease symptoms in women may differ from men. Use a heart disease risk calculator to determine your heart attack risk. Coronary AngiogramCoronary angiogram is an angiogram (an X-ray image of blood vessels filled with contrast material) used to diagnose coronary artery disease responsible for heart attacks, strokes, angina, and other coronary artery diseases.
Instead, they may say they felt chest tightness or squeezing. Sometimes this discomfort can seem bad for a few minutes and then go away. Sometimes the discomfort comes back hours or even a day later. These could all be signs your heart muscle isnâ€™t getting enough oxygen.
This ache or pain is called angina. It is important to know that angina can manifest in many different ways and does not always need to be experienced as chest pain. The chest pain feels like a tightness, fullness, pressure, or ache, which may radiate from the chest to the neck, jaw, shoulder, or back, associated with shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating.
Sweating more than usual – especially if you arenâ€™t exercising or being active – could be an early warning sign of heart problems. Pumping blood through clogged arteries takes more effort from your heart, so your body sweats more to try to keep your body temperature down during the extra exertion. If you experience cold sweats or clammy skin, then you should consult your doctor.
Some women say they feel like they’ve just run a marathon even though they haven’t moved. Keep in mind that these symptoms could also be the result of a pulmonary condition like COPD or asthma, or of a panic attack. But panic attacks usually come on suddenly and generally pass within five minutes.
In contrast, heart attacks are frequently life threatening. If there is any doubt in your mind as to whether you or someone you are with has symptoms indicating heartburn or heart attack, you should call 911 immediately to be transported to an emergency department for medical treatment. It is almost impossible to tell the difference between the symptoms of heartburn and heart attack for many people, especially if they experience symptoms of either for the first time. However, some people who have suffered from repeated episodes of heartburn, or have survived a heart attack, often can tell the difference between the two conditions simply by theirs symptoms, some of which are listed.