Common heart attack symptoms include intense chest pains, which can often be felt also in the left arm or jaw, profuse sweating, and a sense of impending doom or morbid fear.
Yet many heart attack victims do not have any of these symptoms at all.
Or they might experience them in mild form, or have localized pain in their shoulders, arms, back, or abdomen.
Sometimes the only symptom is a feeling of heartburn or nausea.
When experiencing these mild symptoms, often times people will not regard it as a problem and refuse to seek medical help.
It is estimated that around thirty percent of all heart attacks are actually diagnosed as such after the fact.
Thus, it is incredibly important that people who are at risk for heart attacks pay attention to anything unusual that occurs in the upper half of their bodies.
At risk individuals include middle aged or older people who are smokers, obese, diabetic, overweight, or sedentary.
Those who have family histories of heart trouble or high cholesterol should also be on the alert.
Ideally, individuals who fit in to this category should receive regular screenings for coronary artery disease from their doctors and receive advice on modifying risk factors, as well as being informed on potential cardiac problems that might arise.
Individuals who think that they might be experiencing a heart attack are advised to seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid permanent disability or death.
If you live in an area in which an ambulance can get to you swiftly, then make the call.
Otherwise, if it would be faster to have someone drive you to a medical facility, then by all means do that.
Either way, help should be sought immediately.
When a heart attack occurs, every single minute can be potentially life threatening.
While waiting for medical help to arrive, it is advisable to take an aspirin.
Death from heart attacks often occurs because the patient is reluctant to seek medical attention on time.
You might tell yourself, "No, it can't be the case that I'm having a heart attack.
It must be indigestion.
" But if you know that you fall in to a high risk category or suffer from heart disease, then it is vital that you seek emergency medical treatment immediately.
This is one time when you really need to "listen to what your body is telling you.
" Once medical personnel arrive or you arrive at the hospital, you should inform them right off the bat that you think you are having a heart attack.
This is not one of those occasions where you should have to sit and wait in a hospital emergency room.
You should be taken in to a room, hooked up to an I.
V.
, and immediately begin describing your symptoms and medical history to the physician.
The physician will then draw blood for tests, give you oxygen, and get you an ECG.
If you do not say right off the bat that you think you are having a heart attack, then you will be forced to wait, which can result in serious damage or even death.