Could you identify the signs and symptoms that indicate the discomfort you’re experiencing is not indigestion, but a life threatening heart attack?

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. today. According to the American College of Cardiology, the death rate for women is at it’s highest point in twenty years.

We need to learn to identify the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, so that in the event of an emergency we can respond promptly and take immediate life saving action. Although the warning signs of a heart attack may differ from person to person, there are several common symptoms we can readily recognize.These include the following:

1. Chest discomfort. This may feel like a squeezing,

crushing pain, or uncomfortable pressure in the center of the chest. The pain may be mild or strong. It may continue for a few minutes or go away and return.

2. Upper body pain. One may experience discomfort in one or both arms, the neck, back, jaw, or stomach.

3. Shortness of breath. This may occur either together with the chest pain or before it occurs.

4. Other signs, more frequent amongst women,may include fatigue, nausea (feeling sick to the stomach,anxiety, sweating,or fainting.

In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not attempt to drive yourself or take the victim to the hospital in your own car. Ambulances are equipped with life saving equipment and trained staff. Every minute counts. A delay of more than an hour may cause lasting heart damage or death.

Many people naively dismiss the warning signs,

thinking they are not the “real thing.” By ignoring these symptoms they carelessly put their lives at risk. Do not think you are bothering the medical staff needlessly. The life you save may be your own.

Many people confuse the symptoms of heartburn for a heart attack. Heartburn frequently occurs to people over forty years old after eating a heavy meal.

The symptoms of heartburn may include a burning sensation in the chest, just behind the breastbone. This chest pain usually occurs soon after eating and may last from a few minutes to several hours.

Other signs of heartburn may include chest pain after lying down, eating, or bending over. A burning sensation or feeling a hot, sour, salty, or acidic fluid in the throat. Difficulty in swallowing.

A feeling that small amounts of food or liquid are coming back up the throat. In addition, chronic heartburn may cause hoarseness, sore throat, or cough. Unlike a heart attack, during heartburn, chest pain does not usually spread to shoulders, neck, or arms, but it can.

Heartburn usually responds quickly to antacids or other heartburn treatments. It is best avoided by eating lighter meals. The best way to avoid a heart attack is by modifying the risk factors we face daily.These include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and cholesterol.

When is the best time to start a heart attack prevention program? The sooner the better. Or as Dr. Cary Passik, cardiothoracic surgeon advises, “live your life everyday as if you have coronary heart disease.” Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

IT CAN BE VERY PAINPUL!

So PAINFUL that these symptoms are often mistaken for a HEART ATTACK!

If that sounds like you, then it is essential to understand the SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES!

# 1 HEARTBURN & ACID REFUX â?? Typical Causes and Symptoms

This condition typically starts with pain occurring right behind the breastbone resulting from stomach acid which refluxes up into the oesophagus.

This pain can be felt as a burning sensation, either as a spasm or a sharp pain. Stomach contents may rise as far as the throat (often described as repeating) and be experienced as regurgitation. It can include a bitter or sour taste at the back of your throat, belching, bloating and early satiety (feeling full too soon).

When severe, it may resemble vomiting or the sensation of having a Heart Attack.

#2 HEART ATTACK â?? Typical Causes and Symptoms

Risk Group: If you are in a specific risk group you are more likely to have a Heart Attack. That group includes: Men, starting from middle age and up; having high blood pressure or high cholesterol in your blood; being overweight, or if you don’t exercise regularly; or if you are a smoker.

Specific Symptoms to Watch For: Chest pain is a major symptom of heart attack; however, some people may have little or no chest pain, especially the elderly and those with diabetes.

Additional symptoms may include – excessive sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, palpitations, faintness, fainting, and severe weakness.

The pain can spread to the shoulders, neck or arms and may be mild to intense. Pain from a heart attack generally lasts for more than 30 minutes, and may continue for several hours. The longer the pain lasts, the greater the risk of muscle damages.

Almost always, heart attacks are life threatening and require immediate attention. Rapid treatment reduces the risk of sudden death and prevents long-term complications.

The Differences: Heart attack pain can sometimes feel like indigestion or heartburn; however, they must be recognised and treated as quickly as possible because once a coronary artery is blocked, the heart muscle will die within four to six hours. Knowing the signs and symptoms are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. Those who survive can work to reduce their risk of another heart attack in the future by closely following the advice of your Medical Professional.

Knowing your risk factors that may predispose you to a heart attack is the most important factor to keep in mind. They will determine whether you ‘brush over’ the symptoms or take them seriously.

Shah said: “If you smoke, have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, are overweight or have a strong family history of heart disease and have any symptom related to the chest or heart, you should be suspicious.” Heart attack symptoms include the sudden onset of tightness, pressure, squeezing, burning, or discomfort in the chest, throat, neck or either arm. You should be especially suspicious if these symptoms are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sweating, shortness of breath or a fainting sensation, Shah warned. “That’s when a bell should ring telling you that these symptoms may be indicating a heart attack.”

Angina is the most often seen symptom of coronary heart disease. Angina is pain in the chest or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscles do not receive enough blood. The pain occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw and/or back. Angina may feel like indigestion.

”Generally we recommend that if you think you’re having a heart attack, call 9-1-1,” said Shah. “It’s the safest thing to do. We tell people to err on the side of caution and overreact instead of under react.”

The symptoms of reflux or heartburn can look like a heart attack. If you’ve had heartburn all your life and the symptoms you’re experiencing are identical to those you’ve had before then you’re probably experiencing heartburn and not a heart attack. But if the symptoms are accompanied by feeling light-headed or sweaty, “then that type of heartburn should be taken more seriously,” Shah said. “It could signal that you’ve having a heart attack.”

A heart attack is caused when the supply of blood to the heart muscle is reduced or stopped. This happens when the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked. Death or disability is dependent on the percentage of the heart muscle is damaged.

There is no way to predict the time of the day when a heart attack may occur, or the circumstances that may cause a heart attack. A heart attack can strike in the middle of the night, after a meal, in the middle of a rest period, during or after sexual activity or physical activity.

”Obviously, if you’ve been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, then any of these symptoms should ring a loud bell,” said Shah.

Shah emphasized that many types of heart disease that he describes as different “flavors” do not produce pain but are as life-threatening as a typical heart attack.

A regular check-up by a physician when you reach middle age (between 45 and 50) or before beginning a heavy exercise program is essential, he said. “Certain heart conditions can remain hidden and put persons at risk for sudden death. It’s important to point out that heart disease isn’t just one flavor – there are many different flavors.”