The Star Malaysia - Star2

This is what a heart attack really feels like

Being able to recognise the warning signs and act quickly can save your life.

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IF YOU were having a heart attack you’d know it, right? While some people experience the “Hollywood” heart attack – picture clutching your chest in agony and dropping to the ground – others have different or more subtle symptoms that can be mistaken for something a lot less serious. But a heart attack is serious, and time is muscle: The sooner doctors can restore blood flow ( and oxygen) to your heart, the more likely you are to survive.

For this reason, the American Heart Associatio­n advises calling an ambulance immediatel­y if you have even an inkling that you might be having a heart attack. Still, many people are reluctant to do that, especially if they aren’t experienci­ng the classic crushing chest pain.

To explain the variety possible symptoms, we asked 11 survivors to share what they felt when they had a heart attack. Understand­ing that there’s a wide range just might save your life.

> I had a throbbing pain that started in my back, then travelled up to my neck. Then my jaw started throbbing. It was a like sharp pain that was moving through my body. I actually took a painkiller, hoping it would go away. Then my breathing got laboured, like when I was giving birth. I felt like the pain was making it hard for me to catch my breath. Even after the doctors told me it was a heart attack, I was really surprised. I didn’t have the classic heart pain. – Gloria, 49

> I had a bad stomachach­e, like cramps, but worse. Then I felt sharp shooting pains in my chest. I thought I ate something bad and this was food poisoning, since both my stomach and chest hurt. Then I started to feel off – disoriente­d and nauseous. When my left arm felt numb, I immediatel­y thought, I’m having a heart attack. – Carole, 55

> I was doing the dishes and I suddenly had pain in both of my arms; it started in the right and then moved to the left and then both arms started to feel numb. I wanted to just lie down and see if it would go away, but my husband insisted on taking me to the hospital. He saved my life. – Cheryl, 63

> I felt like I couldn’t breathe. It was the worst feeling. I was suddenly gasping for breath. It was like my lungs just shut down. Then I collapsed. – Stan, 71

> I thought it was heartburn; I’ve had heartburn all my life and it didn’t feel any different – just more intense. I tried taking a pain reliever and lying down, but it wouldn’t go away. Then it started getting more intense and moved from pain to more of a squeezing of my heart. My husband drove me to the hospital and I was surprised to learn it was a heart attack. – Doris, 57

> It’s crazy because I had no heart pain when I had my heart attack. Instead, I felt nausea, like I was going to throw up, and I broke out in a cold sweat. I could feel my face and back pouring with sweat. I started to feel dizzy, like I was going to pass out. My son took me to a walk- in- clinic and they called an ambulance. – Marty, 67

> It felt like something was squeezing my chest. It wasn’t pain, so much as discomfort, strong discomfort. It was like someone was squeezing tighter and tighter. – Lily, 82

> I thought it was acid reflux. I probably wouldn’t have even gone to the hospital, but then I passed out. My husband called 911. – Rachel, 63

> I felt exhausted for over a week. Just really tired and run down. I thought I was coming down with something. I was trying to get more sleep, but still not feeling better. What finally brought me to the hospital was the shortness of breath. I have stairs in my house that I’ve climbed every day for 40 years, and suddenly I couldn’t walk them without feeling winded. – Joanie, 67

> I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I was going to throw up. I sat up and my left arm felt numb. Then I started to feel mild pain under my left breast. It wasn’t even the pain that got me scared; it was the numbness. – Rose, 55

> I had just dropped the kids off at school and felt a pain in my upper back between my shoulder blades. It was intense. Then I started to feel nauseous, so I sat in my car waiting for the pain to go way. Another mum saw me and she said I was sweating and looking out of sorts, not responding to her questions. She called an ambulance. I was shocked to discover it was a heart attack. I was only 46 and in good health. – Stephanie, 50

– Prevention magazine/ Tribune News Service

 ??  ?? The most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. — TNS
The most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. — TNS

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