Each year, approximately 1.2 million Americans suffer from a heart attack. Nearly one-third of these individuals die, many before they reach the hospital.
Unfortunately, people often dismiss heart attack warning signs. When these early signs are ignored, we miss a window of opportunity to prevent the attack before any heart damage can occur.
Time Wasted is Muscle Lost
“Time Wasted is Muscle Lost” is a familiar slogan indicating that loss of time is equated to loss of heart muscle. 85% of muscle damage takes place within the first hour of a heart attack. Because of this, it is ideal for the heart vessel to be opened within the hour. In only six hours, a heart muscle is completely destructed.
If you are unsure of whether to go to the hospital with heart attack symptoms, remember that the sooner you go, the more muscle can be saved and the healthier your heart will be.
Calling 911 Starts Treatment Earlier
Many of those experiencing heart attack symptoms avoid calling 911, which only delays treatment and can cause further damage to the heart muscle. Calling emergency services can benefit you in many ways, including:
- 911 dispatchers are often trained to locate you quickly and assist you in early treatment options.
- In many areas, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) can diagnosis a heart attack by using an electrocardiogram and can also initiate early treatment.
- Arriving by ambulance to the emergency department helps to ensure that you will not wait to be seen by a physician. Many patients who experience chest pain drive themselves, only to find that they may wait in the emergency department lobby until they can see a doctor.
- EMS can radio ahead to the emergency department that you are on your way. This enables the emergency department staff to be ready for you when you arrive.
Common Symptoms of an Early Heart Attack
The best way to stop the heart attack process is to detect the symptoms early, before damage to the heart muscle occurs. Those experiencing any of the following symptoms should go to the hospital immediately:
- Shortness of breath without exertion: Difficulty breathing when performing normal activities, with or without chest discomfort
- Heartburn: The sensation of heartburn or a burning in the chest, especially if it becomes chronic
- Discomfort or pain: Crushing to squeezing pressure in the chest or in other areas of the body, including discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck and jaw
- Other symptoms: A feeling of anxiety or fear, or breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness
Because women are more likely to have blockages in smaller arteries, women in the U.S. die more often than men from heart disease. Women may experience additional symptoms, including:
- Pressure, fullness or squeezing pain in the center of the chest, spreading to the neck, shoulder or jaw
- Light-headedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
- Upper abdominal pressure or discomfort
- Lower chest discomfort
- Back pain
- Unusual fatigue
- Unusual shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Nausea
With any level of concern, see a doctor immediately. It is better to be safe than sorry. Remember: Time Wasted is Muscle Lost.
UofL Health is committed to the prevention of disease and the care of your heart. UofL Health – Heart Hospital is the only area hospital dedicated to comprehensive heart care. To learn more, call 502-587-4000.
