8 SIGNS THAT YOU COULD BE HAVING A HEART ATTACK

Mayocardial infarction, or heart attack, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is
blocked for a long enough time that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies. It is vital
for someone who is suffering froma heart attack to seek ielp immediately as a heart attack
can be life threatening.
Watch out for these eight signs of a heart attack:
1. Central chest a!n
Common descriptions of the pain offered by patients include severe crushing, like a
stone pushing against the chest, burning!, pulling!, choking or strangling. More
uncommon descriptions include pricking, piercing and "cutting.
". D!#$c%lt&!n 'reath!n(
#his usually accompanies chest pain, but it could occur on its own. $ heart attack
causes the lungs to become congested and in its most severe form, acute pulmonary
edema, there could be frothing at the mouth and the patient literally chokes! to death on
his own secretions. $ less severe form of this symptoms could occur while one is at rest or
doing very minimal activites.
). L*ss *# c*nsc!*%sness +s%,,en c*llase-
#his is usually caused by an arrhythmia % ventricular tachycardia, ventricular &brillation
or asystole. #o put it simply, either the heart sei'es or stops. (entricular &brillation or
tachycardia is the cause of sudden cardiac death and could occur during e)ercise or even
during sleep. #his is the most common reason why professional athletes collapse during
sports activities and also why people are found dead while sleeping. *uring a heart attack,
the heart could also stop for a few seconds or slow down drastically enough to cause
di''iness and loss of consciousness. In these cases, consciousness is regained when the
heart starts beating again.
.. Une/la!ne, na%sea *r 0*1!t!n(
#his is a less common manifestation of a heart attack, which is mediated by the vagus
nerves. #his could occur alone, or with any of the other symptoms.
2. 3eel!n( *# !n,!(est!*n
#he heart is supplied by the same nerves which supply the digestive system. #hus,
some patients e)perience symtoms that mimic gastric or intestinal complaints.
4. Heart al!tat!*ns
#his could be caused by arrythmia or simply the sensation or the heart pumping more
forceruliy than usual.
5. 6a!n !n the 7a89 thr*at9 le#t sh*%l,er. !nner art *# the le#t ar1 *r central %er
a',*1en 'el*8 the r!'ca(e
#his is known as referred pain as pain from the heart is referred to areas that are
supplied by nerves at the same spinal level, in this case, by the first thoracic nerve, or by
the same autonomic nerves.
8. C*l, s8eat
+weating profusely in the absence or reyer and in association with any ofthe other
above symptoms could suggest that you are having a heart attack. it is an autonomic
response to the stress associated with the heart attack.

If you suspect that you may be having a heart attack, call for help, or get someone to dial
the emergency services number or drive you to the nearest hospital. ,do not drive there on
your own-. If you are already seeing a cardiologist regularly, call and let him.her know that
you are having these symptoms and that you are heading to the hospital. /owever, if the
symptoms are very mild, consult a cardiologist as soon as possible to get some tests
done. 0emember that you should not ignore the symptoms of a heart attack nor self
medicate without having consulted a doctor previously for the symptoms. In the case of
heart matters, #ime is Muscle1
Dr. R%th Ka1 : Car,!*l*(!st
;BBS +S!n(a*re-9 ;RC6 +Int ;e,- +UK-9
; ;e, +Int ;e,- +S!n(a*re-9 3A;S +Car,!*l*(&-9
3RC6 +E,!n-

R%th Ka1 Heart an, Arrh&th1!a Cl!n!c
A,,ress< 234 5rchard 0oad, 678974 :aragon, +ingapore, 2;<<=3
Tel< >?= ?;;; ?<??
3a/< >?= ?;;; ?2??
". H*%rs Ans8er!n( Ser0!ce< >?= ?=;= <<;;
=e are *en< Mon9 @ri999 <:;4 am to =:;4 pm
+at999 <:;4 am to 7:44 pm
E1a!l< rkAarrhythmia.com.sg
=e's!te< http:..www.arrhythmia.com.sg.