Heart Attack Symptoms in Men

The hour, immediately after the heart attack symptoms in men are displayed, is the most crucial hour and hence, is known as the 'Golden Hour'. If treatment is not rendered in this hour, the chances of survival are reduced with every passing minute. It is important to note that heart attack symptoms in men differ from heart attack symptoms in women. Before we get to know what are heart attack symptoms in men, let's first understand what is a heart attack.

What is a Heart Attack?

Heart attack is when the blood supply to a coronary artery is stopped due to a blood clot. Due to this interrupted blood flow a heart muscle is either damaged or destroyed. Death of a muscle in the heart, is responsible for chest pain and the electrical instability of the heart muscle tissue. A heart attack is also called acute myocardial infarction. 'Myocardium' refers to the heart muscle. 'Infarction' means death of a tissue due to lack of oxygen in the area.

Previously, a majority of heart attacks were fatal, but now with increased awareness death rate due to heart attacks, has come down drastically. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation administered within five minutes of the attack, helps save the patient's life.

Heart Attack Symptoms in Men

More than 60% of men who suffer a heart attack, experience heart attack symptoms before the actual heart attack. Often men choose to neglect the symptoms, which leads to complications. Mentioned below are a few most important heart attack symptoms in men.

• Chest Pain: This is one of the most common symptoms of heart attack. The pain is a squeezing pain in center of the chest. This pain often lasts for more than a few minutes. The patient can also experience pressure or fullness in the chest.
• Irregular Heart Beats: The person, suffering from a heart attack, will have irregular heart beats. In most cases, the heart beats are faster as compared to the regular heart beats.
• Discomfort: Along with the chest pain most patients complain about discomfort. If you have both these signs of heart attack, then call for emergency help immediately.
• Pain in other Body Parts: The chest pain can extend to other body parts as well. Shoulder, arms, back, teeth or jaw are the parts where a person can experience pain. It is sometimes observed that there is no pain in the chest, but a nagging pain in the shoulder, arms or back. This pain is more often neglected which causes complications. Therefore, it is important that pain experienced in parts other than the chest is not neglected as well.
• Pain in upper abdomen: Pressure that is building up in the chest is passed down to the abdomen, causing prolonged upper abdomen pain. At times it is also called 'referred pain' in the abdomen.
• Shortness of Breath: This is another very common heart attack symptom in men. Since there is no sufficient supply of blood to a certain muscle in the heart, that part lacks in oxygen, which causes shortness of breath.
• Sweating: Sweating profusely can indicate an impending heart attack, but people assume that it is got to do with feeling warm. It is important that the reason behind sweating is analyzed, so that the person can be treated in the nick of time and the heart attack does not prove to be fatal.
• Fainting: There are many reasons behind fainting. Heart attack is also one of them. In case you have noticed any other symptoms even for a brief period, before the fainting episode, then do not waste any time and seek medical help immediately.
• Nausea and Vomiting: Apart from many other reasons associated with nausea and vomiting, it can also be caused by a heart attack. Purging can also be coupled with blood. This is also a sign of an impending heart attack. In such a case, it is very important that you seek medical help immediately, as it is a warning sign that a heart attack is on its way.
• Light-headed Feeling: A feeling of light-headedness is also a heart attack warning sign.
• Anxiety: Many people suffer from a sudden panic attack for no apparent reason before a heart attack. They assume that their doomsday is close by.
• Indigestion: Indigestion and heartburn can also be caused due to a heart attack.

These were the most obvious symptoms of heart attack. However, there are silent heart attack symptoms, which must not be neglected. The symptoms and its intensity can vary from person to person. As one person might feel a dull chest pain, another person will experience excruciating chest pain. Nevertheless both of them are heart attack symptoms. If you see any of the above mentioned heart attack symptoms in men, do not waste any time and call Emergency Medical Services (EMS) immediately. It is advised to call EMS as the staff in EMS are trained to administer lifesaving treatment. The EMS staff is also trained to revive a heart which has stopped working. At the same time the added advantage of calling EMS is that patients who arrive in EMS ambulances receive faster treatment at the hospital and hence, valuable time in the golden one hour is not lost.