Heart Attack Pain
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists coronary heart disease as the number one cause of death and disability in the United States. Although some heart attacks occur quickly, most progress slowly and often involve chest discomfort.
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Features
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During a heart attack, most people experience pain in the center of their chest that lasts longer than a few minutes. The pain often feels like squeezing, pressure or indigestion. Some people also experience pain in their arms, jaw and between their shoulder blades.
Treatment
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The best way to survive a heart attack is to receive immediate medical attention. Today, emergency rooms are equipped to administer clot-busting and artery opening drugs to counteract a heart attack.
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Time Frame for Treatment
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Ideally, clot-busting and artery opening drugs should be administered within an hour after a heart attack for optimum results.
Considerations
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Men and women often experience different symptoms when having a heart attack. Many women experience extreme fatigue weeks before a heart attack and many women never experience pain during an attack.
Warning
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Without timely medical care, people can and do die from heart attacks. Prolonged chest pain and/or pain in the upper body requires immediate medical treatment.
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