how do you know if you just had a heart attack?

Question:

how do you know if you just had a heart attack?

Answers:
There is a lot of misinformation here. I'm an EMT/Paramedic in an ER and I've personally treated many, many heart attacks as well as other cardiac problems.

First of all, there is no "guarantee" that you would experience left arm pain, pressure in the chest, difficulty breathing, or even chest pain when you have a heart attack. These are some of the "textbook" symptoms, but not everyone will experience the same signs and symptoms. In fact, women tend to have very atypical symptoms. Many people suffer "silent" heart attacks, where no significant symptoms are present.

Second, when you have a heart attack, that does not mean that your heart has stopped beating (cardiac arrest). In most heart attacks, cardiac arrest does NOT occur. A heart attack simply means that a part of your heart tissue is experiencing damage, often due to a blockage of one of the coronary arteries that provides blood (and oxygen) to the tissue. The earlier it is detected and treated, the more favorable the outcome.

If you think you have experienced anything that could be cardiac, I would recommend that you see your physician ASAP. They will probably perform an EKG (electrocardiogram) to look for abnormalities in your rhythm that may be indicative of a cardiac issue, and they will probably test certain enzyme levels in your blood (CKMB and troponin) which can also indicate a cardiac event.

However, I would be very cautious of trying to get serious medical advice here. I've seen a lot of poor advice and misinformation given in this category (and in this thread, for that matter).

Other Answers:
If it is severe enough from what I've hear you will definitely know.

if ur dead.

You wouldn't be writing this right now!

pain in chest

when someone revives you and says "you just had a heartattack".

Chest pains.shortness of breath.sometimes heartburn is another sign of heart problems

pressure in the heart you cant breath

You'd know.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_arrest

You would have sharp pains in your chest and would have trouble breathing. Your heart would be going a mile a minute and you would need to go to the hospital right away.

If you are having a heart attack or think you just had one, get off of Yahoo, and call 911 immediately so you can get to a hospital.

pain in left arm, pain in chest, sweating, posible DOA at hospital

trust me you would know. you left side goes numb, and i mean numb. then, imagine a sharp excruciating pain in your heart that last for several seconds to minutes. if you did just have one, call an ambulance, but i doubt you would be guessing if you did.
Source(s):
i've had one

Pain in the chest shortness of breath often for people who have never had a heart attack they will deny it and claim to be having indigestion. Also characteristic is pain on the left side of the body

Big chest pains. However, the pain should be great enough that even if you arent sure it was actually a heart attack, you need to go to the hospital anyway.

Your wrist starts to twitch. But if you wait for a an answer from yahoo it may be to late to call 911.

Some of the symptoms are tingling on the arm, your chest feels like someones pounded down on it. There are some more on the web page. I hope this hasn't happened to you or a family member, try not to stress, eat better, excercise more. My grandfather had a quadro-pass and then had a stroke and now its very hard for him to express himself and I think its more frustating for him than for us.

Take Care.

Go to a Dr, NOW. I had a heart attack 6 years ago. I denied it for several hours. Once in the local hospital the last words I heard the doctor say are "Pack him, Ship him" I was in Boston with-in an hour or so. I didn't realize how bad it was until then. The Dr. later told me it was so bad that had I had a full arrest type heart attack, it could have happened right in front of him, and I would NOT be here today. Don't play, you only have one heart. Go to a Doctor and do it NOW. Good Luck.

If you are 14, you probably didn't.
DO everyone a favor -look up hypochondria in dictionary - your family will be saved a lot of grief!

I have heard that women signs are not the same as men .a shooting pain up thought left shoulder into the back and arm. and that some women have then and don't even know till they go to Dr.office. You need to go get all checked out.Please ! to be safe

Anytime you have chest pain . go to the doctor . better safe than sorry

Thats like asking someone what it feels like to get shot in the head.you muppet!!

Call the hospital. and stay for some help.

Please see the webpages for more details on Heart Attack.
Symptoms of heart disease:-
(1) Shortness of breath after slight exertion.
(2) Pain or tightness in the chest, often running down the left arm.
(3) Swelling in the ankles or abdomen.
(4) Dizziness, light headedness, or vertigo.
(5) Seeing double.(a particular dangerous sign)
(6) Indigestion that is vague and hangs on.
(7) Persistant headache.
(8) Fatigue without otherwise explained origin.
(9) Excessive perspiration.
If any of the symptoms are present, take E.C.G. urgently. If there is variation in ECG, admit the patient in the hospital within 3 hours for anti-coagulant therapy. Failure to do so will lead to huge medical expense and loss of life.
Source(s):
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000195.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_attack
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/medical_notes/g-i/764015.stm

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how do you know if you just had a heart attack?

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