Common Symptoms of a heart attack

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Symptoms of a heart attack (myocardial infarct, الذبحة القلبية) are individual as it is nearly impossible to find an identical clinical picture between two different patients even if the symptoms appeared the same, they will not have the same degree of severity. The majority of heart attacks pass without a prior cascade, and they never present with a dramatic picture as they usually show in the movies. Rarely heart attacks can happen without showing any of the related symptoms at all.

The coexistence of symptoms and signs characteristic to cardiovascular diseases in a person increase the likelihood of a heart attack in him. However, a heart attack can occur at anytime, anywhere be it at work, at rest, or while moving. Few heart attacks develop abruptly, but in the majority of cases patients appear to have had warning signs of few hours, days or weeks preceding the incident.

Angina pectoris a frequent striking pain in the chest that increases with effort and diminish at rest, can be a very first sign of an impending heart attack.

Angina results of a temporarily blocked artery (partially or totally blocked) affecting the blood flow and perfusion within the organ, and leading to inadequate flow of oxygenated blood to the heart cells (myocardial cells), a condition medically known as “Myocardial ischemia”.

Characteristic symptoms of a heart attack include:

1. The feeling of pressure in the center of the chest (under the sternum), lasting for a limited time period of few minutes (more than 15 and less than 45 min)
2. Pain irradiating outside of the chest, pain spreading to the shoulders, arms, back, or even to the lower jaw and teeth.
3. Progressive periodic pain in the chest of ascending character, pain periods are on the rise (more than 15 minutes)
4. Continuous pain in the upper abdomen
5. Rapid breathing and shortness of breath
6. Sweating and palpitations
7. The feeling of imminent death
8. Fainting (Syncope)
9. Nausea and vomiting

Heart attacks in females can present with a different collection of symptoms, as it usually acquire milder symptoms than that in men. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, the signs and symptoms of a myocardial infarction in women also include:

1. Heartburn in the upper part of the abdomen
2. Damp and sticky skin (viscous)
3. Dizziness
4. Unjustified weakness

Verified by: Dr.Diab (January 18, 2017)

Citation: Dr.Diab. (January 18, 2017). Common Symptoms of a Heart Attack. Medcoi Journal of Medicine, 8(2). urn:medcoi:article15824.