Heart Attack Symptoms

Heart attack is a condition that is medically termed as myocardial infarction. This condition is generally caused by a blockage in the heart artery which in turn cuts off the supply of blood to the heart. Sometimes, a blood clot may form around the blockage, completely preventing blood from reaching the heart. This loss of blood flow leads to a heart attack. If left without immediate medical attention, this situation may cause irreversible damage to the heart muscles.

Even though heart attacks are very serious medical conditions, people usually fail to see its telltale signs and symptoms. People often misconstrue the symptoms as simple signs of stress and fatigue.

According to the American Heart Association, heart attack symptoms include a feeling of uncomfortable pressure in the chest. The person may feel intense pain like heaviness as well as squeezing in the chest. This sensation may last longer than a few minutes. Another symptom is pain that spreads throughout the neck, shoulders and arms. The person may feel mild to intense pain that is present in the chest as well as the neck, the arms and even the jaw. The feeling may actually vary from sensations of burning, tightness or strain. This situation can be described as pain radiating from the chest and out to other parts of the body.

Heart attack symptoms also include fainting, lightheadedness, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Of course, increased heart rate may be observed. Some people may also exhibit paleness as well as increased anxiety. The person may also break in cold sweats. In certain cases of heart attack, the patients usually say that before the attack, they felt a feeling of impending doom.

Although heart attacks usually give noticeable symptoms, there are cases in which the heart attack happens with no heart attack symptoms at all. This is called a silent heart attack.