A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, begins with a disruption in the blood and oxygen supply to the heart . It differs from cardiac arrest, which occurs when there are problems with the heart's internal electrical system. Cardiac arrest can sometimes result from a heart attack.
Not all heart attacks have the same symptoms or severity. Symptoms may appear hours, days, or weeks beforehand ; or there may be no symptoms at all, with the first sign being a sudden heart attack. Some people experience mild pain, while others experience more severe pain. However, the more signs and symptoms a patient has, the greater the likelihood of having a heart attack.
Heart attack symptoms
- Tightness, pressure, and pain in the chest or arms, which can spread to the neck, jaw, or back.
- Bad stomach which includes nausea, burning, indigestion or abdominal pain.
- Fatigue and cold sweat
- Shortness of breath.
- Lightheadedness or dizziness sudden.
I think I am having a heart attack, what should I do?
Call 112 or your local emergency number if you think someone or you yourself are having a heart attack.
On average, a person with symptoms waits 3 hours before asking for help. Many patients die before reaching the hospital.
Can we prevent a heart attack?
In Spain, more than 50.000 people die each year from acute myocardial infarction , and about 70.000 have a coronary 'stent' implanted, a device that is implanted after suffering an acute infarction.
Does your cardiovascular health matter to you?
Red Canaria Laboratorios has a study for the Cardiovascular Risk Prevention It will help prevent heart attacks among other cardiovascular diseases.