What does a heart attack feel like? Unless a person actually gets it, it is a bit difficult to point out what it actually feels like. But there are certain signs and symptoms that clearly indicates that it is on its way.
In the Hollywood movies, you must have seen how the actors act out a heart attack scene. They are talking or fighting and then suddenly their face wrinkles up in pain, their hand shoots up to the left side of their chest, and then they slowly crumple to the ground, blacked out. Well, in real life, the onset is a bit different, and unless a person actually experiences it, it is very difficult to clearly point out what a heart attack feels like.
A person who is about to get a heart attack for the first time, does not realize so until it is very late, hence it is important that one knows the symptoms so that medical attention can be given immediately. There are several warning signs that can help save a life. So, just read the paragraphs given below and find answers to the question of “What Does a Heart Attack Feel Like?”
Causes
It is important to know the early signs, but at the same time, it is also important to know about the causes so that one can take steps for prevention, because as we all know, prevention is better than cure. One major cause of having an attack is when the arteries that carries blood to the heart are blocked, which in turn, prevents the free flow of blood and a blood clot forms in the artery. This blood clot stops the flow of blood to the heart, and this leads to a heart attack. Mild ones take place when deposits are formed in the walls of the arteries, thus narrowing the pathway. This does not stop the blood from flowing, but the flow is disturbed in a sporadic way. These were the main causes.
Symptoms
Just because people are not aware of the early signs, they often do not know what this feels like, until and unless the attack reaches an extreme point. The first hour of a heart attack is termed as the ‘golden hour’, and this is the hour when the person shows all the signs and symptoms. If the person gets medical attention during this period, then nothing like it. But, just because people are not aware of these symptoms, or they think that it is nothing but certain minor pain, that they realize quite late. Here are certain symptoms in men and women, that you should be aware of as it can help save a life.
- One way to know what does a cardiac arrest feel like, is by the uncomfortable pressure that is being exerted on the center of the chest. The person can feel a kind of fullness in the chest, accompanied by pain and this lasts for more than a few minutes.
- The person also undergoes excessive sweating and starts feeling dizzy.
- Pain in the neck or the arms or the back is another symptom. The pain might either be mild or sharp, and it usually spreads from one part to another. There is one major difference in men and women, and that’s the place of the pain. Very rarely has it happened that women suffer from chest pain. They mainly experience a pain between their shoulders.
- Lose of appetite, feeling of indigestion, and a heartburn are also experienced. The person will also experience a pain in the stomach.
- The rate of heartbeat increases, and the person also suffers from heart palpitation.
- Another symptom is that the jaw of the person starts aching. A toothache can also be a major indication. Shortness of breath is another common warning sign.
- The person also breaks out into cold sweat and starts turning pale. They also experience this feeling of an impending doom and becomes extremely anxious.
- A person who is just about to have an attack suddenly starts feeling tired and fatigue. That’s another warning that one has to be careful of.
These are some of the symptoms and warning signs that are mainly experienced during the ‘golden hour’. Now that you know what heart attacks feel like, it will be easier for you to get medical attention immediately. Treatment administered during the ‘golden hour’ can save a life.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
