Heart Attack

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Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Heart Attack
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Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms

A heart attack is a medical emergency and prompt treatment increases the chance for survival. If you suspect that you or someone around you is experiencing a heart attack, call 9-1-1 and seek medical attention immediately.

Symptoms of heart attack vary considerably, even in patients who have experienced a previous heart attack. Heart attack can occur suddenly and cause severe, intense symptoms; however, most begin slowly and cause mild discomfort that may come and go.

In some cases, the condition does not produce symptoms (called "silent heart attack") and is diagnosed incidentally by an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This occurs more often in patients with diabetes.

Warning signs of a heart attack include the following:

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back
• Pain or discomfort that radiates to other areas of the upper body (e.g., one or both arms, shoulders, back, neck, jaw, or abdomen)
• Shortness of breath (may occur prior to chest pain, may accompany it, or may occur without it)
• Lightheadedness or fainting (may occur with or without chest pain)
• Cold sweat or paleness (may occur with or without chest pain)
• Nausea (may occur with or without chest pain)

Additional symptoms include the following:

• Clamminess
• Indigestion
• Intense sweating
• Unexplained anxiety, weakness, or fatigue

According to the American Heart Association, heart attack symptoms in women may differ from symptoms in men. Although women also may experience chest pain or discomfort, they are more likely than men to experience other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, back pain, or jaw pain.

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