According to the American Heart Association, about 700,000 people each year experience a heart attack and almost half of these people will die from it. A person’s chances of surviving a heart attack are increased if emergency treatment is immediately administered.
A heart attack (Myocardial Infarction or MI) occurs when the blood supply to the heart is restricted or cut off. During a heart attack, the heart muscle begins to die due to lack of blood flow to it. Symptoms of heart attack include:
- Discomfort
- Pressure
- Heaviness
- Pain in the chest, arm, or below the breast bone
- Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat, or arm
- Fullness, indigestion, or choking feeling (may feel like heartburn)
- Sweating
- Nausea, vomiting or dizziness
- Extreme weakness
- Anxiety
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid or irregular heart beats
During a heart attack, symptoms last 30 minutes or longer and are not relieved by rest or oral medications. Initial symptoms can start as a mild discomfort that progress to significant pain. Some people have a heart attack without having any symptoms (a "silent" MI). A silent MI can occur among all people, though it occurs more often in people with diabetes.
If you experience the symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 or go immediately to the nearest hospital. Obtaining treatment quickly is key to reducing damage to your heart.