If You Think You Are Having A Heart Attack

Heart attacks have beginnings.

It’s easy to dismiss an early warning sign of a heart attack. Who hasn’t had shortness of breath, lightheadedness, sweating or nausea? Or could that chest pain simply be angina or indigestion?

But second-guessing could put your life at risk. May adults ignore these warning signs and put themselves at risk for significant damage to the heart muscle, or even death.

How Frequent Are Heart Attacks?

In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds.

Every year, about 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack, and three-fourths of these are having their first heart attack.

Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives each year than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Heart Attack?

Someone having a heart attack may experience any or all of these symptoms:

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness or squeezing pain in the center of the chest
• Discomfort or pain spreading beyond the chest to the shoulders, neck, jaw, teeth, or one or both arms, or occasionally upper abdomen
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
• Sweating
• Nausea

“When somebody’s having a heart attack usual symptoms are a profuse sweating, sudden onset of profuse sweating, and they can have chest pains, and they can be short of breath. Those are the common symptoms,” said Babu S. Doddapaneni, MD, FACC, a cardiologist at Franciscan Physician Network Indiana Heart Physicians in Indianapolis. “The best thing is to call 911. Do not drive yourself to the emergency room. Just call 911. That’s the safest and the best option.”

What Should I Do If I Think I Am Having A Heart Attack?

If you think you or someone else is having symptoms of a heart attack, quick action is key. The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow in your heart, the greater the damage to the heart muscle.

Don’t ignore or attempt to tough out the symptoms of a heart attack for more than five minutes.

“People will deny they are having a heart attack by actually doing more physically to prove to themselves that they are not having one, or they do not want to upset the event they are currently attending,” said Kathryn Stark BSN, RN, Heart Failure and Chest Pain Program Coordinator at Franciscan Health Indianapolis. “People also deny their symptoms because they fear they will upset their family and friends.”

If You Think You Are Having A Heart Attack:

• Call 911 or your local medical emergency number.
• If you don’t have access to emergency medical services, have a neighbor or a friend drive you to the nearest hospital.
• Chew and swallow an aspirin, unless you are allergic to aspirin or have been told by your doctor never to take aspirin.
• Take nitroglycerin, if prescribed. If you think you’re having a heart attack and your doctor has previously prescribed nitroglycerin for you, take it as directed. Do not take anyone else’s nitroglycerin.

If Someone Near You May Be Having A Heart Attack:

• Begin CPR and use an automated external defibrillator.
• Call 911 or your local medical emergency number.
• If the person is unconscious, start hands-only CPR or use an AED. Hands-only CPR is performed by pushing hard and quickly in the center of the chest. The dispatcher can instruct you in the proper procedures until help arrives.

What Is Early Heart Attack Care?

Recognizing early heart attack symptoms and treating those symptoms early can help avert sudden death and damage to the heart. Early recognition of a heart attack and response saves lives.

Mild symptoms can indicate the onset of a heart attack include:

• Chest discomfort
• Chest pressure
• Chest ache
• Chest burning
• Chest fullness
• Weakness
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Dizziness

These symptoms may come and go for hours or days before the chest pain becomes severe.

“You never know when you’re going to come across someone who is having symptoms of a heart attack, but is in denial or resisting medical attention,” Stark said. “Helping people to understand why it is so important to get early care is why EHAC was created in the first place. Knowing what to do can save lives.”

How Do I Talk To Someone Who Is Reluctant To Get Heart Attack Care?

If someone is resistant to getting medical attention to early heart attack signs, the Early Heart Attack Care campaign recommends these steps to help the patient get to care as soon as possible:

• Find out the most critical issue on the person's mind. Offer to take care of that concern yourself or have someone else do it.
• Suggest that the person check out any early heart attack symptoms, no matter how mild they may seem.
• Offer to call a spouse or family member for them.
• Enlist family members or co-workers to help you.
• Be personal and persistent. Sit and talk - don’t walk away.
• Congratulate the victim on their good judgment: “Great! Let’s just get it checked.”