Heart disease is the number one cause of death in America, and heart attacks are among the most common results of the disease. However, diagnosing and even recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack can be difficult, because there are so many other conditions that are accompanied by discomfort or pressure in the chest.
The most common symptom of a heart attack is described as a feeling of pressure or being squeezed by a fist inside the central chest. Additional symptoms that heart attack patients describe include pain in the upper arm or across the back, as well as up into the neck and jaw, while others report feelings of heartburn, nausea, or abdominal pain.
For women, the symptoms may be different, such as a sudden onset of weakness, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, or fatigue. And for both genders, many heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts longer than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back.
On top of all this, however, is the fact that not all heart attacks are preceded by chest pain. Sometimes, patients have reported that they broke out in a cold sweat before a heart attack, or experienced dizziness or lightheadedness.
A common misdiagnosis for heart attacks is a condition known as cerebral ventricle neoplasm, a tumor which metastasizes in one of the four fluid-filled cavities within the center of the brain that are called ventricles (not to be confused with the two main chambers of the heart itself, which are also called ventricles).
There are many opportunities to misdiagnose a heart attack, so calling 911 is imperative if you feel that you may be having one. Whatever your circumstance when you start to experience symptoms, there will be medical treatment that you will have to consider and assess. Best Doctors can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you can get a correct diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment under any circumstances, and for any condition. For an expert second opinion, call 1-866-904-0910 or visit bestdoctors.com/members.