Crescent-News.com - Do you know the heart attack symptoms?

By DARLENE PRINCE

After decades of information on the symptoms and causes of heart attacks being given to the public, a recent government report indicates that still only one in four Americans knows the warning signs of a heart attack.

Statistics report that about 900,000 Americans have a heart attack every year, with about 157,000 of them turning fatal. Around half of the deaths take place within an hour of the onset of the symptoms, so being aware of those symptoms is crucial, experts say.

While the classic symptom of a heart attack is massive chest pain, this is not the only sign that indicates a heart attack is in progress.

"A feeling of heartburn can often mimic heart attack pain," said Dr. Thomas Welch, board-certified cardiologist and consultant at Defiance Clinic and Mercy Hospital of Defiance. "If the pain occurs right after a suspicious meal, it is more likely to be acid reflux than if it occurs following physical exertion. But without testing, it is often difficult for physicians to tell the difference, so it is wise to have the pain checked out."

Dr. Daniel Cassavar, a cardiologist with CardioCare Consultants at Defiance Regional Medical Center, said that many people who are having a heart attack attribute it to indigestion or heartburn.

"Patients don't want to believe that it is their heart," Cassavar said. "The biggest problem with this is that if you are indeed having a heart attack, the longer you wait, the more muscle is lost and the less likely it is that we can reverse the process that is being undertaken. Heart muscle is dying because it is not getting any blood flow at that point in time.

"This is why I ... believe it is very important to get this information out to the community through presentations and other sources," Cassavar said. "Patients who have discomfort in the middle of their chest, particularly those who have significant risk factors but anyone who has this discomfort, needs to take it seriously and should assume it could be their heart."

In addition to symptoms like heartburn or indigestion, Welch said other heart attack signs may include pain that radiates to the neck, jaw, arm or back. The pain can be characterized as pressure, heaviness, tightness, burning or, less often as a sharp pain.
Then again, there may be no chest pain at all.

Said Cassavar: "They may have shortness of breath or extreme fatigue. Some will have significant diaphoresis or breaking out in a sweat. There may be uneasiness or nausea." He noted that women especially, may not have any chest pain, just shortness of breath or fatigue.

Common risk factors for heart attacks, according to Cassavar, include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal or high cholesterol, inactivity, obesity and a strong family history of heart disease which includes parents or siblings who have heart problems before the age of 60, in general.

If individuals believe they are having a heart attack, they should not ignore the symptoms and immediately call 911.

Welch advises chewing a regular aspirin, which will take blood-thinning properties into the system and reduce the risk of permanent damage to the heart.

Cassavar also advises taking an aspirin, noting it would probably be best to chew four baby aspirin, which dissolve quickly, although a regular aspirin would suffice and keep blood platelets from clumping and blocking an artery.

He also recommends, if possible, calling someone to be with you until medical help arrives. He said that person could perform chest compressions, if the heart goes into a bad rhythm, or tell 911 that the condition has worsened.