my friend - eric Bulgyeyes - is worried about a heart attack. What are the symptoms?

Answer 1

The onset of symptoms in myocardial infarction (MI) is usually gradual, over several minutes, and rarely instantaneous.[10] Chest pain is the most common symptom of acute myocardial infarction and is often described as a sensation of tightness, pressure, or squeezing. Chest pain due to ischemia (a lack of blood and hence oxygen supply) of the heart muscle is termed angina pectoris. Pain radiates most often to the left arm, but may also radiate to the lower jaw, neck, right arm, back, and epigastrium, where it may mimic heartburn. Any group of symptoms compatible with a sudden interruption of the blood flow to the heart are called an acute coronary syndrome.[11]

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) occurs when the damage to the heart limits the output of the left ventricle, causing left ventricular failure and consequent pulmonary edema. Other symptoms include diaphoresis (an excessive form of sweating), weakness, light-headedness, nausea, vomiting, and palpitations. Loss of consciousness and even sudden death can occur in myocardial infarctions and are poor prognostic indicators.

Women often experience different symptoms than men. The most common symptoms of MI in women include dyspnea, weakness, and fatigue. Fatigue, sleep disturbances, and dyspnea have been reported as frequently occurring symptoms which may manifest as long as one month before the actual clinically manifested ischemic event. In women, chest pain may be less predictive of coronary ischemia than in men.[12]

Approximately half of all MI patients have experienced warning symptoms such as chest pain prior to the infarction.[13]

Approximately one third of all myocardial infarctions are silent, without chest pain or other symptoms.[14] These cases can be discovered later on electrocardiograms or at autopsy without a prior history of related complaints. A silent course is more common in the elderly, in patients with diabetes mellitus[15] and after heart transplantation, probably because the donor heart is not connected to nerves of the host.[16] In diabetics, differences in pain threshold, autonomic neuropathy, and psychological factors have been cited as possible explanations for the lack of symptoms.[15]

taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_attack#Symptoms

tell ur fren live healthier....

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

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Answer 4

About 25% of heart attacks are 'silent' meaning that they do not produce any symptoms. In addition although there is a 'classic' set of symptoms most people do not have many of these symptoms or may express them quite differently but chest pain, shortness of breath, left arm pain, and jaw pain are the symptoms most typically reported. You will note that these match the symptoms of angina which is due to inadequate circulation and typically preceees a heart attack by many years.

Answer 5

Firstly, if he's worried about having a heart attack currently, get off the web and get him to a hospital, RIGHT NOW.

If he's worried about having one in general and wants to know the symptoms, the classic ones are crushing chest pain, pain radiating down the left arm, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms would be: headache, nausea, lower back pain, and weakness.

If he thinks he's having a heart attack, have him take an aspirin (unless he's allergic or it's contraindicated because of another condition/drug he's taking), and get him to a hospital as quickly as possible. Time is life in this situation.

Answer 6

PLEASE!! If he is the least bit concerned - go to an emergency room NOW!

Heart attacks don't necessarly come in the Fred Sanford variety in fact you are LUCKY if they do. Heart attacks can be silent and you don't know it's happened for years and then your in Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).

They can do a blood test to determine if there are blockages. If there is not Great! If there is, your there in time to save your life and/or prevent heart damage. I'll spare you the details on the results of heart damage and heart failure.

Denial is a normal part of heart problems for some reason. This isn't happening to me......Don't deny -GO!!!!! Go to an emergency room, PLEASE and get checked. The worst that can happen is they say nothing is wrong.

I know something about this - I have CHF. I had a silent heart attack - they said 3 to 5 years before a doctor sent me in to get checked. I was going to work, lifting etc just like I always did. My father has heart problems and he didn't notice any symtoms until I was almost gone.

Please go.

Answer 7

Chest discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath: May occur with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light headedness.

Answer 8

well in brief the heart attack or myocardial infarction presents typically with sudden severe chest pain described by the patient as heavy or crushing in nature , it usually radiates to left shoulder and arm or to the neck and jaw or the upper abdomen and it actually can only present as pain in those sites without even having chest pain .
the pain is usally associated with nausea and vomiting and sweating and the pain duration is usually less than 30 minutes .
in the elderly with diabetese a heart attack can present silently with no symptoms and lead to sudden death .
the risk factors for a heart attack are :
age , previous heart attacks , hypertension , diabetese , high cholesterol and LDL levels , family history , obesity and most importantly SMOKING .

Answer 9

yea, for sure take some small doses of aspirin just in case......and drink plenty of water; helps the heart pump easier with less thick blood

Answer 10

are the bulgy eyes a permanent fixture or have you just changed his name?

if you've just changed his name you should get him to the medical centre and get a professional opinion.

lol

xxxxxx