How do you know if someone is having a heart attack?

Answer 1

Heart attacks are unpredictable. There are typically no signs, but right before it happens in one of your arms (typically left) will have intense pain radiating down it. That's when you know its about to strike. By jogging, walking, running, etc. or any cardiovascular exercise you can seriously help prevent them.

Answer 2

You cannot always tell when you have a heart attack. Some studies suggest that greater than 50% of Myocardial Infarctions (MIs) are silent; but there are cardinal signs to look for that may suggest a heart attack is in the making: Chest pain, shortness of breath, jaw pain, nausea, pain radiating down the left arm, anxiety.

Because not everyone expresses these signs, an EKG can tell your doctor if you have had any damage to your heart. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms currently, you should call an ambulance immediately, take an Aspirin, and not just hope that it will go away.

Aspirin acts as a blood thinning agent and may save your life in a heart attack situation! Many Cardiac patients take a low dose (80mg) Aspirin every day.

Answer 3

Some people experience nothing when having a heart attack - this is called a 'silent heart attack'. Most people going through a heart attack, however, feel pressure or squeezing in their chest which then spreads to the neck and arms. It is frequently painful.

Answer 4

The symptoms of a heart attack are shortness of breath, chest pain and pain in the left arm. Although it is possible for someone with a heart condition to have a heart attack after watching a scary movie, the chances of it happening are extremely rare.

Answer 5

If you believe that yourself, or someone you may know is experiencing a heart attack, you should rush them immediately to your closest Hospital. If one is experiencing sharp pain in their chest, arm, or even shoulder, shortness of breath, excessive perspiration, difficulty breathing, or nausea, these are all heart attack warning signs and should be taken very seriously. Get medical help immediately.

Answer 6

There are many signs of a heart attack. Chest pain is only one of them. There are other more obscure signs which may however be signs of another problem. The first thing to do is to call 911. People there will ask some questions and determine whether they will pick someone up immediately for transport to emergency.

Answer 7

Heart attack, also called myocardial infarction, is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. A heart attack is usually the result of something wrong with the blood vessels to the heart. The heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle is interrupted. This can happen when a coronary artery that brings blood to the heart is blocked, usually by plaque that has built up over the years. A blood clot stuck in an artery can also cause a heart attack. This is called a coronary occlusion or coronary thrombosis.

Warning Signs

Sometimes even a healthy, unblocked artery can spasm and cut off or reduce the blood flow to the heart. Sometimes doctors don't know what causes this, but if the spasm is bad enough it can also lead to a heart attack.

If the blood flow to the heart is cut off for a long time, the heart muscle can be irreversibly damaged and even die. This can lead to the death or disabling of the person. Sometimes a heart attack happens with no warning.

One warning sign of an impending heart attack can be angina, a pain in the chest that happens when the heart doesn't get the blood it needs given the person's level of activity.

The classic signs of a heart attack are a crushing fullness or squeezing in the chest that lasts more than a few minutes. Sometimes there's also a feeling of panic or doom. The pain can spread to the shoulders, neck, arms or jaw. Sometimes there's lightheadedness, sweating, nausea or difficulty breathing. The person might faint. If a person experiences these symptoms they should get to an emergency room immediately. If they're not willing to wait for an ambulance they should have someone drive them there. Many people go into denial when they're experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack and delay can be deadly. The longer someone waits to go to the emergency room, the less likely they'll survive. The heart muscle that's not getting a blood supply doesn't die instantly and the faster the person is seen the more likely they'll recover from their heart attack. Most people who die of a heart attack die within two hours of first feeling the symptoms.

Answer 8

1. An intense ache in the chest’s core lasting a few minutes or that goes away and comes back.
2. Aching pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the chest.
3. Pain or uneasiness in the jaw, neck, arms, back, or stomach.
4. Shortness of breath with or without discomfort in the chest
5. Nausea or light-headedness, vomiting and breaking out in a cold sweat

Answer 9

you'll know if you all of a sudden have a very hard time breathing and you have a huge chest pain.

Answer 10

You wouldn't have time to type this if you were having a heart attack. Get a stress test and echo if you are worried.