Health experts are warning that heart attack symptoms are often subtle and easily dismissed, but quick action can mean the difference between life and death.
Health experts are urging people to act quickly when experiencing heart attack symptoms, emphasizing that early intervention can save lives. Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, a cardiologist at Boston University, said hesitation to visit the emergency room is understandable, but dangerous. It’s “a very human thing” to assume you’re overreacting, he said, “but any delay in care can cause irreversible damage.”
According to the American Heart Association, about 805,000 people in the United States suffer heart attacks each year, and roughly 12 percent of those cases are fatal. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort — described as pressure or squeezing, “like an elephant sitting on your chest,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones said.
Other warning signs include pain spreading to the arms, neck, back, or jaw; shortness of breath; nausea; dizziness; or unexplained fatigue, said Dr. Latha Palaniappan of Stanford University. Some heart attacks can even occur silently, with symptoms mistaken for indigestion or the flu, added Dr. Seth Martin of Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Experts urge anyone with these symptoms to call 911 rather than drive themselves. “It’s never a bad idea to be evaluated,” Dr. Martin said. “If it’s not a heart attack, that’s very good news.”