Heart Attack

heart attack is usually caused by a blood clot that forms in a coronary artery. This blocks blood flow to your heart and often causes a cramping or squeezing type of pain in the center of your chest. Sometimes this pain can spread to the upper stomach area (upper abdomen).

TYPICAL HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS

Chest discomfort or pain
This discomfort or pain can feel like a tight ache, pressure, fullness or squeezing in your chest lasting more than a few minutes. This discomfort may come and go.
Upper body pain
Pain or discomfort may spread beyond your chest to your shoulders, arms, back, neck, teeth or jaw. You may have upper body pain with no chest discomfort.
Stomach pain
Pain may extend downward into your abdominal area and may feel like heartburn.
Shortness of breath
You may pant for breath or try to take in deep breaths. This often occurs before you develop chest discomfort, or you may not experience any chest discomfort.
Anxiety
You may feel a sense of doom or feel as if you’re having a panic attack for no apparent reason.
Lightheadedness
In addition to chest pressure, you may feel dizzy or feel like you might pass out.
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HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of a heart attack are not the same for everyone. Sometimes heart attacks are sudden and excruciating, but often, they start out slow with mild discomfort. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one study found that one-third of people who had a heart attack had no chest pain. These people were likely to be older, female, or diabetic.

Some people have no symptoms. This is called a silent heart attack. The most common symptoms of a heart attack are listed below.

sick to your stomach or vomit.

Most heart attacks begin with subtle symptoms — with only discomfort that often is not described as pain. The chest discomfort may come and go. Don’t be tempted to downplay your symptoms or brush them off as indigestion or anxiety.

Don’t “tough out” heart attack symptoms for more than five minutes. Call 911 or other emergency medical services for help.

If you don’t have access to emergency medical services, have someone drive you to the nearest hospital. Drive yourself only as a last resort, if there are absolutely no other options.

Heart attack symptoms vary widely. For instance, you may have only minor chest discomfort while someone else has excruciating pain. One thing applies to everyone, though: If you suspect you’re having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately.