Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 5: Knowing when to seek immediate medical attention
• Part 2 of 5: Identifying other early warning signs
• Part 3 of 5: Taking action while waiting for the ambulance
• Part 4 of 5: Better understand other causes and symptoms
• Part 5 of 5: Knowing how high the risk is
• Tips
• Warnings

If your heart is not getting enough oxygen because the blood supply is suddenly cut off, you will have a heart attack. The heart muscle cannot pump properly, and the tissue soon begins to die. In the Netherlands, nearly 30,000 people have a heart attack every year. However, only a small proportion of these people recognize all the major symptoms of a myocardial infarction. Make sure you don't belong to these statistics. Crushing chest pain and a aching upper body feeling (whether during exercise or not) are typical symptoms of a heart attack, but there are many more warning signs that can crop up. Being able to spot the signs of a heart attack so you can go to the hospital or call 911 right away can mean the difference between survival, irreversible tissue damage, and death. If you have any doubts as to whether the pain you are experiencing is related to a heart attack or not, call 911 right away.

To step

Part 1 of 5: Knowing when to seek immediate medical attention

1. Watch for chest pain. Chest pain, both sharp and dull, is the most common sign of a heart attack. People who have a heart attack often say they have a pinching, full, pressure, tight, or sharp feeling in the center or left side of the chest. This feeling may last for a few minutes or more, or may pass and come back later.
   • The chest pain associated with a heart attack isn't always overwhelming or severe, as many people describe it (as you always see it in movies). It can also be fairly mild, so don't ignore that kind of chest pain.
   • Often "retrosternal" chest pain is also felt. This refers to pain behind the sternum. It is often confused with abdominal pain, such as when you feel bloated. If in doubt about this pain, call a doctor.
   • Keep in mind that not everyone experiences chest pain with a heart attack; in half of people with a heart attack, there is no chest pain at all. Don't rule out the possibility of a heart attack if you don't have chest pain.
2. See if you experience any discomfort in the upper body. Sometimes the pain from a heart attack radiates from the chest, which can also hurt the neck, jaw, abdomen, upper back, and left arm. The pain in these areas is usually dull. If you haven't been exercising or doing anything else that could cause muscle pain, this type of pain could indicate a heart attack.
3. Look for dizziness, light-headedness, and fainting. These are also very common signs of a heart attack, although they are not common to everyone who has a heart attack.
   • Dizziness, light-headedness and fainting are also signs of other illnesses, so they are easily overlooked. Don't ignore these symptoms, especially if you also have chest pain.
   • Women seem to have these symptoms more often than men, although not all women experience them.
4. Watch your breathing. Shortness of breath is a subtle symptom of a heart attack, but it should be taken very seriously. It's different from shortness of breath from other conditions because it seems to come out of nowhere. People who are short of breath during a heart attack describe feeling as if they have exercised heavily, when they have done nothing but sit and relax.
   • Shortness of breath can be the only symptom of your heart attack. Take it very seriously! Especially if you haven't done anything that normally makes you short of breath, you should call emergency services right away if you experience this symptom.
5. Watch for nausea. Nausea can also cause cold sweats, and even vomiting. If you experience these symptoms, especially in combination with other symptoms, you may well be having a heart attack.
6. Consider if you are anxious. Many people who have a heart attack are extremely anxious and experience a "sense of impending doom." This feeling must be taken very seriously; seek immediate medical attention if you experience this extreme emotion.
7. Call the emergency services immediately if you suspect that you or someone else is having a heart attack. The sooner you can start treatment, the greater the chance of survival. Don't take any chances by watering it down for yourself or by waiting too long.
   • One study found that more than half of people with heart attack symptoms wait longer than 4 hours before seeking help for a heart attack. Nearly half of the people who die from a heart attack die outside the hospital. Don't ignore any symptom, no matter how mild it may seem. Get help quickly.

Part 2 of 5: Identifying other early warning signs

1. Get medical attention for angina. Angina is chest pain that can feel like light pressure, a burning sensation, or a feeling of fullness. It is often confused with heartburn. Angina can be a sign of coronary heart disease, which is the leading cause of heart attack. If you experience any chest pain, it is best to get examined right away.
   • Usually with angina one feels chest pain. However, it can also occur in the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, throat, and back. It can be difficult to determine where exactly you feel the pain.
   • Pain from angina usually subsides with a few minutes of rest. If the pain lasts longer than a few minutes, or if it doesn't get better with rest or angina medications, call 911.
   • Some people get angina after exercise, and it's not always a sign of illness or heart attack. The most important thing to pay attention to is a change in the normal pattern.
   • If you think you have a painful digestive problem, you may actually have angina. Make an appointment with your doctor to find out the cause of the pain.
2. Determine if you have arrhythmia. Arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms, and they occur in at least 90% of people who have a heart attack. If you have a fluttering sensation in your chest or feel like your heart is "skipping a beat," you may have a heart rhythm disorder. See a specialist to find out what's causing your symptoms.
   • Arrhythmias can also cause other serious symptoms such as dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, a fast or pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath and chest pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, call the emergency services.
   • Although arrhythmia is very common, especially in older adults, it can be a sign of a serious medical problem. Don't ignore arrhythmia. Talk to your doctor to make sure you don't have a serious condition.
3. Watch out for disorientation, confusion, and stroke symptoms. In older people these can be signs of heart problems. Seek medical attention if you experience unexplained cognitive problems.
4. Watch for unusual fatigue. Women are more likely than men to experience unusual, sudden and unexplained fatigue as a symptom of a heart attack. This fatigue can start a few days before the real heart attack. If you are suddenly unusually tired without changing your daily activities, see your doctor immediately.

Part 3 of 5: Taking action while waiting for the ambulance

1. Call 112 immediately. The emergency center can tell you how to help the person experiencing the symptoms. Do exactly as the emergency response team member says. Always call first 112 before doing anything else.
   • By calling 112 you will have help sooner than by driving to the emergency room yourself. Call an ambulance. Do not drive yourself to the hospital unless you really do no other option.
   • Treatment for a heart attack is most effective if it is started within an hour of the first symptoms appearing.
2. Stop everything you were doing. Sit down and relax. Try to stay calm by breathing as best you can.
   • Loosen tight clothing, such as your collar and belt.
3. Take your medication if you have already received it for heart disease. If you are on prescription medications such as nitroglycerin, take the recommended dose while you wait for the emergency services.
   • Do not take medications that have not been prescribed by a doctor. It can be harmful to take someone else's medications.
4. Take aspirin. Chewing and swallowing an aspirin can help dissolve a blood clot or clear the blockage leading to the heart attack.
   • Do not take aspirin if you are allergic to it or if your doctor has advised against taking aspirin.
5. See your doctor even if the symptoms improve. Even if the symptoms subside after five minutes, you still need to see a doctor. A heart attack can leave blood clots in your bloodstream, which can lead to even more health problems, such as another heart attack or stroke. You must be examined by an expert.

Part 4 of 5: Better understand other causes and symptoms

1. Recognize the symptoms of poor digestion. Maldigestion, or indigestion, is usually a chronic or recurring pain that you feel in your stomach or abdomen. Indigestion can cause mild chest pain or a feeling of pressure. One or more of the following symptoms often accompany this pain:
   • Heartburn
   • Feeling bloated or full
   • Farmers
   • Acid reflux
   • Pain in the stomach, or a stomach that is "upset"
   • Decreased appetite
2. Recognize the symptoms of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GERD results when your esophageal muscle doesn't close properly, allowing stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus. This can lead to heartburn and a feeling as if the food is "stuck" in the chest. It can also make you feel nauseous, especially after eating.
   • The symptoms of GERD usually appear after eating. It gets worse when you lie down or when you bend over, and it is often worst at night.
3. Recognize asthma symptoms. Asthma can cause chest pain, a feeling of pressure or a tight feeling. These symptoms are usually accompanied by breathlessness and coughing.
   • Mild asthma attacks usually don't last more than a few minutes. If you still have trouble breathing after a few minutes, get medical help.
4. Recognize the signs of a panic attack. People who are very anxious can have a panic attack. The symptoms of a panic attack are similar to those of a heart attack. You get an increased heart rate, you start to sweat, feel weak or pass out, have chest pain or difficulty breathing.
   • The symptoms of a panic attack come on very quickly and usually disappear just as quickly. If your symptoms don't get better within 10 minutes, call 911.

Part 5 of 5: Knowing how high the risk is

1. Consider your age. The risk of a heart attack increases with age. Men 45 or older and women over 55 are more likely to have a heart attack than younger people.
   • Older people often have different symptoms than young people who have a heart attack. Symptoms to watch out for in older people include fainting, trouble breathing, nausea, and weakness.
   • Symptoms of dementia, such as memory loss, making mistakes or unusual behavior and reduced reason, can also be signs of a "silent" heart attack in the elderly.
2. Assess your weight. If you are overweight or obese, you have a higher risk of a heart attack.
   • A sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk.
   • A diet high in saturated fat increases the risk of coronary heart disease, which in turn can lead to a heart attack.
3. Stop smoking. Smoking and secondhand smoke increase the risk of a heart attack.
4. Think about other chronic illnesses. The risk of a heart attack is higher if you have any of the following medical conditions:
   • High bloodpressure
   • Cholesterol too high
   • A family or personal history of heart attacks or strokes
   • Diabetes
     • People with diabetes sometimes have less dramatic symptoms of a heart attack. Get immediate medical attention if symptoms are suspected.

Tips

• Don't be embarrassed or worry that you might not "really" have a heart attack, but get help. If you seek help too late, you can die.
• Always take heart attack symptoms seriously. If you don't feel better after 5-10 minutes, get medical help.

Warnings

• If you've had a heart attack before, the risk of it happening again is higher.
• Do not use a defibrillator (AED) if you have not been trained to do so.
• In silent ischemia, you have a heart attack without any symptoms or warning signs.