Here’s something that a lot of people don’t know: A heart attack is not always intense. Many people who have experienced a heart attack describe only subtle signs and symptoms that are not what is typically associated with a heart attack.
However mild your symptom is, a heart attack is a medical emergency. There is a blockage cutting blood supply to the heart muscle, causing damage to it.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), someone has a heart attack in the U.S. every 40 seconds. About one out of five is silent, with its signs and symptoms being so seemingly undramatic that a person is not aware of it happening.
If you are at risk of developing heart disease or have a history of it, you should know about the potential symptoms of a heart attack. Let’s talk about some of the things to be aware of, and where you can go in Irmo and the Midlands for outstanding medical care of your heart health so you can prevent a heart attack.
#1: Chest Symptoms
The mental picture you may have of a heart attack is a person clutching their chest, and this is true. The most common symptom of a heart attack is a feeling of chest squeezing, tightness, and aching.
A heart attack can cause chest pain, but a more subtle sign is minor discomfort or pressure in the chest area. This is caused by the disruption of blood supply to the heart muscle.
#2: Face and Upper-Body Symptoms
During a heart attack, symptoms may be felt in the face, neck, jaw, back, shoulder, and arm. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or pain in the neck, jaw, back, shoulder, and arm – or even discomfort in these areas – can be due to a heart attack. The nerve fibers in the arm and jaw may receive pain signals from the heart, causing you to experience these symptoms in this area.
The more common heart attack symptoms in women tend to be dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath. If you are suddenly experiencing labored breathing while at rest, especially if it is accompanied by one or more of these other symptoms, you may be having a heart attack.
#3: Cold Sweat
Breaking out in a cold sweat is another symptom of a heart attack. As your heart exerts more effort to pump blood through the clogged artery, you sweat more to keep your skin cool and your temperature down. So, if you are sweating despite not engaging in an activity that increases your heart rate, it could be due to a heart attack.
Heart Disease Management in the Midlands
At SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation, our physicians frequently treat patients who have chronic diseases, such as heart disease. If you are concerned about your heart attack risk and would like to take better control of your health, we are here to help you.
If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911 right away.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced physicians, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (803) 749-1111 or by filling out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you take the best care of your heart!
