First Aid

Potential Emergency Situations and Conditions

Chest Pain / Heart Attack Symptoms

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, results from heart disease -- a condition in which one of the coronary arteries that supplies blood to the heart becomes blocked, ultimately damaging the heart muscle. The blockage is often a result of atherosclerosis -- a buildup of plaque, known as cholesterol, and other fatty substances. Plaque inhibits and obstructs the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart, thus, reducing the flow to the rest of the body.

If the blood and oxygen supply is cut off severely or for a long period of time, muscle cells of the heart suffer severe and devastating damage and die. The result is damage or death to the area of the heart that became affected by reduced blood supply.

The danger of chest pain:

It is important to know that restricted blood flow to the heart:

usually occurs before the heart attack happens.
may happen days, weeks, or even months before the heart attack occurs.
may be mild and easy to ignore.
may be confused with indigestion.
may be confused with sore muscles.

Warning signs of a heart attack:

In some, but not all, cases, the body will send warning signs that indicate a heart attack. These include:

uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing, pain, or discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than two minutes. This pain may be persistent, or may go away and return.
pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulders, neck, or arms
pain, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath.
any chest discomfort that causes anxiety or concern
any chest discomfort that is accompanied by lightheadedness, fainting, or dizziness
any of the above symptoms that disappear with rest, then return with exertion
unexplained weakness or fatigue
palpitations, cold sweat, or paleness

Pain that lasts for 10 to 15 minutes while you are resting should also be evaluated immediately.

Responding to heart attack warning signs:

If you, or someone you know exhibits any of the above warning signs, act immediately. Call 911, or your local emergency number. If necessary, give CPR if you are trained, or ask someone who is.

What are the risk factors for heart attack?

A risk factor is anything that may increase a person's chance of developing a disease. It may be an activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things. Different diseases have different risk factors.

Although these factors can increase a person's risk, they do not necessarily cause the disease. For example, some people with one or more risk factors never develop cancer, while others develop cancer and have no known risk factors.

But, knowing your risk factors to any disease can help to guide you into the appropriate actions, including changing behaviors and being clinically monitored for the disease.

The following have been suggested as risk factors for a heart attack:

age
smoking
diabetes
male gender
high cholesterol level
high blood pressure (hypertension)
family history of heart disease/heart attack
obesity
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
lack of exercise and physical activity
race - African-Americans have three times the risk of severe hypertension than Caucasians

Indigestion

Indigestion, also known as upset stomach or dyspepsia, is a painful or burning feeling in the upper abdomen that may be accompanied by:

nausea
abdominal bloating
belching
vomiting

The symptoms of indigestion may resemble other medical conditions, such as chest pain. Always consult your physician for diagnosis.

Indigestion might be caused by:

a disease or an ulcer in the digestive tract
eating too much
eating too quickly
eating high-fat foods
eating during stressful situations
smoking
exercising right before eating

Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, using medications that irritate the stomach lining, being tired, and having ongoing stress can also cause or aggravate indigestion. Some people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of these factors.

Indigestion may resemble, or be a symptom of, another, more serious, medical condition. Consult your physician immediately under the following circumstances:

vomiting, weight loss, or appetite loss
black, tarry stools or blood in vomit
severe pain in the upper right abdomen
discomfort unrelated to eating
indigestion accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, or pain radiating to the jaw, neck, or arm

This page was last updated on: January 25, 2008.

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