Experts call it the "Hollywood heart attack." The actor clutches his chest, grimaces, and keels over so convincingly that even the people in the back row know he's having a heart attack.
In reality, heart attacks are often less cinematic...in fact, you could be having one and not even know it. A study from December, which reviewed 35 years of research, found that 17 to 27 percent of men had no chest discomfort during a heart attack. An even larger number of women who'd had a heart attack - roughly one-third or more - didn't notice chest discomfort.
A heart attack occurs when an artery feeding blood to your heart muscle becomes blocked, typically by a clot. If the area of heart muscle suffers from lack of oxygen for too long, it can become permanently damaged (if it's not immediately fatal). Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack is important so you can get medical treatment that can reduce damage to your heart.
Here are the symptoms, courtesy of the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health:
- Chest discomfort. Note that though you may define it as pain, this sensation may instead feel like a squeezing or pressure in the center of your chest. It may only be a little uncomfortable, and it may linger or come and go.
- Discomfort in one or both arms, your back, your neck, your jaw, or your stomach.
- Shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or lightheadedness. These are more common in women.
If you start having heart-attack symptoms, call 911 right away, even if your symptoms cease in a few minutes. Don't wait. Also, going to the hospital by ambulance will likely help you get treatment faster than if you go by car. If you do go by car, never drive yourself unless there's no other option.
Sources: American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health
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