Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

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According to the Center for Disease Control, about 920,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. Of those who die, about half of them die within an hour of the first symptoms and before they ever reach the hospital. The key to not being another heart attack statistic? Seeking medical care as soon as possible.

“Time is muscle,” Yancy says. “And in the process of trying to referee your symptoms, you’re increasing your risk of coming into the hospital too late. When the patient presents themselves in a decent amount of time, they can minimize the risk of having a heart attack.”

When you notice a symptom, call 911. Don’t consult with your physician, don’t let your spouse diagnose you, don’t call your neighbor for a ride—seek medical attention immediately. It may be nerve-wracking to have an ambulance show up at your front door, especially if the only symptom you have is indigestion. But you’re far better off having a trained paramedic with you on the ride to the hospital than taking your chances catching a ride with someone or driving yourself. If you should go into cardiac arrest, the paramedic has everything he/she needs to resuscitate you and monitor your condition. 

“One of the most alarming things is that sometimes your first symptom can be your last symptom,” Yancy says. “There is no timing, or no way to predict what might happen to you, so it’s better to have someone at your side who knows how to treat you if they should need to.” 

Of course, the most effective way to treat a heart attack is to never have one in the first place. Quitting smoking, reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, maintaining a healthy weight, managing diabetes, eating a balanced diet, and staying active significantly decrease your odds of having a heart attack. In addition, talk with your doctor about getting screened for common risk factors. This means getting your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol checked on a yearly basis. If the results are abnormal, your doctor may recommend more frequent monitoring.
            
Sharon, now 69, has a defibrillator and pacemaker. With the help of cardiac rehabilitation and heart medication to help lower her blood pressure and cholesterol, she’s doing well and feeling great. Since her heart attack, she takes walks with her husband five to seven times a week and eats a low-sodium diet.

“There are a few things I can’t do yet, like vacuum—which my husband is thrilled about—but there are a lot of things I can,” Sharon says. “Overall I think I’m doing really well.”