Learn the Signs and Symptoms of a Possible Heart Attack

It's important to seek treatment immediately if you think you might be experiencing heart attack symptoms.

Some people experience the onset of a heart attack as a sharp radiating pain across their chest and back, while others feel more of a heavy pressure in their chest. For each person it's different...that's why everyone needs to become familiar with all the symptoms of a heart attack.

Common signs include:

• Pain in the chest
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness

Time can be critical. Waiting too long before going to the emergency department may increase the amount of heart damage. That's why it's important to go immediately to your nearest emergency room or call 911. Seeking immediate treatment can make a big difference in the quality of life after recovery.

Depending on the type and severity of the heart attack, the cardiac team takes patients from the emergency department directly to a catheterization lab to administer treatments to clear blocked arteries and restore blood and oxygen flow to damaged heart tissue. At Desert Springs Hospital, a cardiac team and fully equipped cardiac catheterization suite is available 24 hours a day. Patients are rapidly evaluated, and treatment options are explored.

In other situations, special medications such as tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) can be administered by the emergency team during the first six hours after symptoms begin. The beauty of t-PA is that it is administered into an arm vein, but works in the arteries of the heart to dissolve clots that caused the heart attack in the first place.

Fast action by patients and emergency staff can help stop the heart attack. Follow up therapy and lifestyle changes can prevent a heart attack from striking again.

If you are having an emergency go immediately to the nearest emergency room or call 911!