A heart attack is a dangerous condition in which blood supply to a certain part of the heart muscle suddenly stops or significantly decreases.
Experts emphasize that these symptoms may not always appear suddenly and not always with high intensity.
An example can be a case where one person felt chest pain throughout the day, did not pay attention to it, and decided that tomorrow, if it got worse, he would go to the hospital. However, that night he died of a heart attack.
Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, a professor of cardiology at Boston University School of Medicine, noted that he understands why some people may hesitate before seeking help.
“It’s natural” to assume that you are exaggerating, he said. “You don’t want to raise a false alarm.”
However, when symptoms of a heart attack appear, it is extremely important not to delay. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart stops or sharply decreases. Without the necessary blood circulation, the heart muscle begins to die, and delaying seeking medical help can lead to serious consequences, added Dr. Seth Martin, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
Dr. Lata Palaniappan, associate dean and professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University, also noted that heart attacks do not always manifest suddenly and intensely.
“Not every heart attack looks like what you see in the movies,” she said, “for example, when someone clutches their chest and falls.”
Chest pain or discomfort
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the main sign of a heart attack is pain or discomfort in the center of the chest. Experts describe this sensation as if an elephant is sitting on the chest.
This can manifest as pressure, squeezing, or a feeling of heaviness, Dr. Martin added.
Some may confuse these symptoms with heartburn, but heartburn is usually accompanied by a “burning” sensation, which differs from pressure and squeezing, he clarified. However, such distinctions do not guarantee an accurate diagnosis, the specialist warned.
If the discomfort lasts for several minutes or recurs, “this is a serious reason to seek medical help,” emphasized Dr. Martin.
As Dr. Palaniappan added, if the symptoms are “new, severe, or unusual for you,” it’s better to assume that they may be related to the heart.
Pain in the jaw, neck, back, or arms
Dr. Lloyd-Jones also noted that chest pain can radiate to other areas of the body. Most often, patients feel pain rising up the neck, shoulders, or arms, and this usually manifests as pressure.
Dr. Martin added that pain is most often felt in the left arm, as the heart is predominantly located on the left side, but pain can also occur in the right arm.
Sometimes discomfort in the chest can spread to the back or jaw, causing unpleasant sensations, he said.
Shortness of breath
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, if the heart muscle is damaged and cannot pump enough blood, this can cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath.
Typically, this condition occurs suddenly, Dr. Martin noted, and can manifest even at rest, without physical exertion. It may be accompanied by discomfort in the chest or manifest separately.
Unusual fatigue, fainting, or nausea
While chest pain is a classic sign, there are other, less well-known symptoms. For example, pay attention to unexpected or unexplained fatigue, Dr. Palaniappan said.
“My father, for example, died of a heart attack in 1984, and his symptoms started with severe fatigue,” she added.
Other possible signs include nausea and dizziness. Feelings of anxiety or hopelessness, sweating, a feeling of coldness and stickiness may also occur, Dr. Martin noted.
More than 20% of heart attacks are considered “silent,” meaning they occur without obvious signs, with mild symptoms, or with symptoms that patients do not associate with a heart attack. Dr. Martin noted that this can resemble flu or a stomach upset.
People often do not recognize these symptoms in time, and damage to the heart muscle is only detected later through diagnostic tests, he added.
All of this underscores the importance of seeking medical help when unusual symptoms arise, he noted.
If you experience one or more signs of a heart attack, it is advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible.
“Timely treatment significantly increases the chances of survival and recovery,” concluded Dr. Palaniappan.
Experts emphasized that one should not dwell on their worries, as my relative did. The main thing is to see a doctor. And if it turns out that it is not a heart attack, that will be great news, added Dr. Lloyd-Jones.
