It will take a clinical evaluation along with blood tests and an electrocardiogram EKG to definitively diagnose a heart attack, says Dr. If you might be having heart attack symptoms, call for an ambulance to take you to be evaluated.
The best way to guard yourself from a heart attack is to eat a healthy diet , do regular aerobic activity, avoid smoking, manage diabetes if you have it, have regular checkups with your primary care provider, and know and control your cholesterol levels, says Dr. If you notice a sudden change in your ability to perform physical activity, get to a doctor right away. A cardiologist explains the more common, yet more subtle symptoms. Symptoms that feel like a heart attack may also signal other conditions.
An anxiety attack, for instance, can result in chest pain, shortness of breath, and sweating. Although an anxiety attack may not be life-threatening, it should still be evaluated. Trust your instinct and pay attention to all the signs your body is sending you.
Acting quickly when you suspect a heart attack is coming on can greatly improve your chances for survival. Learn what to do. Acid reflux happens when your stomach contents rise into your esophagus. Learn which foods you should avoid to prevent reflux. When you experience pain under the left breast, it can have a variety of causes.
Learn what you can do and when you should see a doctor. Both heart attacks and heartburn cause chest pain. However, there are distinctions between the two conditions. Learn how to tell the difference. An acute myocardial infarction is a heart attack. Learn about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of this life threatening condition. Based on new evidence, a U. During a heart attack, blood supply that normally nourishes the heart with oxygen is cut off and the heart muscle begins to die.
A heart attack can slow or accelerate your heart rate. Learn what happens to your heart, heart rate, and blood pressure during a heart attack.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States and everyone is at risk for heart attack. Increasing age and a family history of heart disease raise the risk. Some heart attacks care caused by a torn artery or a plaque rupture that creates a blood clot, but most are related to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, lack of exercise, being overweight or smoking.
Fortunately, you can take steps on your own to help reduce your risk of heart attack or heart disease, including:. If you smoke, quitting is one of the most important things you can do to reduce heart disease risk. Knowing the signs and calling can save a life. Making a donation of any size supports lifesaving research and education. Call if you experience heart attack warning signs. Calling is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment.
An emergency medical services EMS team can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too. Watch an animation of a heart attack. Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff.
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