INOVA HEALTH SYSTEM : HEART DISEASE : Warning Signs

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Warning Signs

Are You or a Loved One Having Chest Discomfort or Other Warning Signs?

Call 911 immediately if you have symptoms of a heart attack. Are you or a loved one having chest discomfort or other warning signs? It is Monday morning and you are at work. You are having chest discomfort and you are scared. After all, you are only 45, eat a healthy diet (or so you think), exercise fairly regularly and are generally healthy. What should you do?

Call 911 and have the Emergency Medical System bring you to the nearest emergency room. Do not delay due to fears of being embarrassed. The Inova Heart Center's four Emergency Departments evaluate thousands of patients with the complaint of chest discomfort each year. Do not drive yourself. Do not have a friend drive. Call 911 for the rescue squad. They have the equipment you may need in an emergency.

What are the warning signs of a heart attack or heart disease?

Not all of the following signs and symptoms are present with a heart attack. In fact, some people have minimal or unrecognized symptoms.

Call 911 for help if you have any combination of these symptoms:

Intense and/or prolonged chest pain, pressure, or discomfort lasting more than a few minutes
Discomfort radiating to the left or right shoulder, left or right arm, neck, back, jaw, or ears
Prolonged upper abdominal pain
Pounding heart or palpitations
Shortness of breath
Fainting or loss of consciousness (syncope)
Nausea or vomiting
Sweating, abnormal skin color
Frequent attacks of angina that are not provoked by physical or emotional exertion
Angina that is unrelieved after taking 3 nitroglycerin tablets over 15 minutes

Does chest discomfort always mean a heart attack?

Chest discomfort can be caused by a variety of cardiac and non-cardiac causes: (1) angina, (2) a heart attack, (3) other heart problems, and (4) a variety of non-cardiac problems. However, don't take any chances!!! If you are having a heart attack, time is of the essence. Get to the nearest emergency room by calling 911. Why? Because most of the permanent damage, that could possibly be stopped, occurs within the first hour of an attack. Moreover, the first hour of a heart attack is potentially the most immediate threat to your life. The area rescue squads are trained to give you emergency care should you need it in the transport to the emergency department. They have the necessary equipment and medications for cardiac emergencies. The staff of the four Emergency Departments within the Inova Health System are specially trained in early detection and prompt treatment decisions if you are having a heart attack.