Types of chest pain in women
A heart attack (or myocardial
infarction) occurs when a coronary
artery, one of the blood vessels
that supply oxygen-rich blood to the
heart muscle, becomes blocked. The
area of heart muscle that does not
receive blood begins to die. The
seriousness of a heart attack
depends on how much of the heart is
affected. Often the surrounding
healthy muscle keeps working,
allowing the heart to keep pumping
while the injured muscle heals and
recovers some of its strength.
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The signs of a heart attack can
be subtle and hard to identify. Many
people don't recognize the symptoms
even when they are in the middle of
a major heart attack. The amount of
time that passes before you receive
treatment can mean the difference
between life and death. Learn about
the symptoms of heart disease and
your own risk factors. Get help
immediately even if you are not sure
you are having a heart attack.
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A heart attack feels different to
different people. Even if you have
already had a heart attack, a second
one may not feel the same. You may
feel pain in any of the areas of the
body shown below. Or you may feel
pain only in your arms, jaw, or
back. Other warning signs of a heart
attack include dizziness, fainting,
sweating, nausea, or weakness.
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what is angina
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Angina--a feeling of pain,
heaviness, tightness, burning, or
squeezing in your chest--is an
indication that you have heart
disease and are at risk of having a
heart attack. Angina occurs when the
heart muscle does not receive enough
oxygen because of a temporary
narrowing of one of the coronary
arteries that supply it with
oxygen-rich blood. Angina usually
occurs during physical exertion or
emotional stress.
Tell your doctor immediately if
you have any symptoms of angina,
which are similar to those of an
actual heart attack. Prompt
treatment for angina can prevent you
from having a heart attack. Many
people experience angina for years,
but do not seek treatment and
eventually have a heart attack.
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Please continue to
next page for
What should I do
if I have the symptoms of a heart
attack?
Posted on 12/1997
