By Donna V. Scaglione
It’s not easy to know whether you’re having a heart attack. So-called “movie heart attacks,” in which the pain seems severe and sudden leaving little doubt a person is being stricken, are not typical. According to the American Heart Association, most heart attacks move slowly, causing mild pain that can be puzzling to the patient.
Heart experts advise if you think you might be having a heart attack, don’t try and figure it out for yourself. Call 9-1-1. Time matters, they warn. For every minute a heart attack goes on, precious heart muscle dies because of a lack of blood and oxygen feeding it. Know the warning signs and act.
Editor’s Note: At Risk for A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.
1. Chest pains
Chest pain is a common symptom for heart attack, and how it presents can vary. It’s been described as a heaviness, tightness, or a squeezing in the chest. It can linger for a few minutes, or come and go, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
"It may be a chest fullness that they don't recognize as pain," Dr. Gordon Tomaselli, chief of cardiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, tells AARP.org. "Sometimes it doesn't particularly hurt. It's an uncomfortable sensation."
You might also be hit with sweating or a cold sweat, coughing, a feeling of lightheadedness, and breathing difficulty or shortness of breath.
Editor’s Note: At Risk for A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.
