Not all people experience the same symptoms or the same severity of symptoms. If you are having a heart attack (myocardial infarction), you may experience no signs or symptoms. Others have mild symptoms and some have more severe pain. Additionally, symptoms can differ among men and women. If left untreated, a heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest, a life-threatening condition where the heart suddenly stops beating.
Some common heart attack warning signs include:
Additional heart attack symptoms can include unusual tiredness or vomiting. If you are at an increased risk of heart disease, understanding these symptoms is critical for early intervention.
Many heart attacks stem from coronary artery disease, where the coronary arteries narrow or become blocked due to plaque buildup. This restricts blood flow to the heart muscle, potentially causing damage. Recognizing symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention is essential for minimizing heart muscle damage.
As mentioned before, symptoms can differ among everyone, but they also vary among men and women. For men, a heart attack usually begins with a sudden rupture in a coronary artery, leading to a blood clot. Both men and women can experience the typical chest pain or discomfort, which some describe as pressure that feels like an elephant sitting on their chest.
Many women think the classic symptoms of a heart attack are unmistakable, but heart attacks in women can be more subtle and confusing. Women are more likely to experience silent heart attack symptoms, like indigestion, shortness of breath and nausea, often chalking them up to be less life-threatening conditions. Some women who have experienced a heart attack report feeling upper back pressure that feels like squeezing or a rope being tied around them. Women should also be on the lookout for lightheadedness or fainting as other warning signs.
If you experience heart attack symptoms, Banner Health’s emergency team will quickly assess your heart health to help guide immediate treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to minimizing damage to the heart muscle and reducing the risk of cardiac arrest. Contact Banner Health now for expert care and rapid intervention to protect your heart.
To diagnose your heart attack, our emergency health care team at Banner will ask about your symptoms to begin evaluation of your heart health and any underlying heart disease. Heart attack diagnosis is based on the symptoms you experienced and your test results. These tests will help treat you quickly in order to limit heart muscle damage.
The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is used to visualize what damage has occurred to your heart muscle and where it has occurred. The EKG can also monitor your heart rate and rhythm.
An echocardiography is an imaging test that can be used during and after a heart attack. This test determines how the heart is pumping and what areas are not pumping normally. It can also tell if any structures of the heart have been injured after a heart attack.
Your doctor may draw blood to measure your levels of cardiac enzymes. These enzymes indicate heart muscle damage. Cardiac enzymes are usually found inside the cells of your heart. After a heart attack, injured muscle cells (including enzymes) are released into your bloodstream. Measuring the levels of these enzymes helps your doctor determine the size of the heart attack and when it started. Troponins may also be measured when blood tests are taken. These proteins are found inside heart cells and are released when they are damaged by the lack of blood supply to the heart. Troponin detection in blood may indicate a heart attack.
Cardiac catheterizations, or cardiac caths, are sometimes used during the first hours of a heart attack if medications are not relieving the symptoms. The cardiac cath is used to visualize the blocked blood vessel and assess blood flow, helping your doctor determine the appropriate procedure for addressing the blockage.
If you experience any early signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain or discomfort spreading to your arms, neck, jaw, or back, call 911 or get to a hospital immediately. Recognizing these symptoms and seeking prompt medical attention is vital to minimizing heart muscle damage.
Afterward, it’s important to learn about treatment for heart attacks, including emergency procedures and ongoing care that can support your recovery and heart health. Acting quickly and understanding your treatment options can make a significant difference in your outcome.
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