Heart Attack Symptoms

Act In Time to Heart Attack Symptoms - By the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Heart Attack Symptoms - Men and Women

Heart Attack Symptoms, Act In Time - By The National Institute of Health.

Use your browser's "back" button to navigate the heart attack symptoms menu.

• Heart attack symptoms
• Women heart attack symptoms
• Surviving heart attack symptoms
• Heart attack symptom uncertainty
• Calling 911 for a heart attack
• Limiting heart muscle damage
• Emergency medical personnel
• Planing ahead for a heart attack
• Testing for a heart attack

It's vital that everyone learn the warning signs of a heart attack.

Acting In Time To Heart Attack Symptoms

Women Heart Attack Symptoms

If you're a woman, you may not believe you're as vulnerable to a heart attack as men–but you are. Women account for nearly half of all heart attack deaths. Heart disease is the number one killer of both women and men.

There are differences in how women and men respond to a heart attack. Women are less likely than men to believe they're having a heart attack and more likely to delay in seeking emergency treatment.

Further, women tend to be about 10 years older than men when they have a heart attack. They are more likely to have other conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and congestive heart failure–making it all the more vital that they get proper treatment fast.

Women should learn the heart attack warning signs. These are:

• Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest.
  
  
• Pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
  
  
• Other symptoms, such as a shortness of breath, breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you feel heart attack symptoms, do not delay. Remember, minutes matter! Do not wait for more than a few minutes–5 minutes at most–to call 9-1-1. Your family will benefit most if you seek fast treatment.
To learn more about women and heart disease:

Healthy Heart Handbook for Women.

National Women's Health Information Center

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Surviving Heart Attack Symptoms

How do you survive a heart attack? Fast action is your best weapon against a heart attack. Why? Because clot-busting drugs and other artery-opening treatments can stop a heart attack in its tracks. They can prevent or limit damage to the heart–but they need to be given immediately after symptoms begin. The sooner they are started, the more good they will do–and the greater the chances are for survival and a full recovery. To be most effective, they need to be given ideally within 1 hour of the start of heart attack symptoms.

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Heart Attack Uncertainty Is Normal

Expectations often don't match reality when it comes to heart attack. People expect a heart attack to happen as it does in the movies, where someone clutches his or her chest in pain and falls over. Because of this expectation, people often are not sure if they're having a heart attack. As a result, people often take a wait-and-see approach instead of seeking care at once. This even happens to people who have already had a heart attack. They may not recognize the symptoms, because their next heart attack can have entirely different symptoms.

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Call 9-1-1

The first step to take when a heart attack happens is to call 9-1-1. Call whether you're sure you're having a heart attack or not.

Anyone showing heart attack warning signs needs to receive medical treatment right away. Don't wait more than a few minutes—5 minutes at most—to call 9-1-1.

Calling 9-1-1 for an ambulance is the best way to get to the hospital because:

If for some reason, you are having heart attack symptoms and cannot call 9-1-1, have someone else drive you at once to the hospital. Never drive yourself to the hospital, unless you absolutely have no other choice.

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Emergency Medical Personnel

Calling 9-1-1 is like bringing a hospital emergency department to your door. Why?

Emergency medical personnel can take vital signs, determine your medical condition, and if needed give added medical care.

In many places, emergency medical personnel are linked to hospitals and doctors, so they can relay your vital signs and electrocardiogram to the emergency department before you arrive. This way, you receive immediate continued treatment by emergency department personnel once you reach the hospital.

Emergency medical personnel can give a variety of treatments and medications at the scene. Emergency medical personnel carry drugs and equipment that can help your medical condition, including oxygen, heart medications (such as nitroglycerin), pain relief treatments (such as morphine), and defibrillators (equipment that restarts the heart if it stops beating).

Limiting Heart Muscle Damage

Treatments for a heart attack work to open the blocked artery to restore blood flow as fast as possible to prevent or limit damage to the heart muscle, and to lessen the chance of a repeat attack. The main treatments are thrombolytic ("clot-busting") therapy, other medications, and special procedures, such as angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery.

To be most effective, these treatments must be given fast–within 1 hour of the start of heart attack symptoms. Acting fast can save your life and limit damage to your heart.

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Plan Ahead

Make a plan now for what you would do if a heart attack should happen. Doing so will save time and could help save a life.

To plan ahead:

• Learn the heart attack warning signs.
  
• Think through what you would do if you had heart attack symptoms. Decide what you would do if it happened while you were at home, in the middle of the night, at work, or at any other place or in any other situation that might need advance planning.
  
• Decide who would care for any dependents in an emergency. Emergency medical personnel will generally contact a friend or relative (or the police department, if necessary) to make emergency arrangements for your dependents.
• Talk with your family and friends about the heart attack warning signs and the importance of acting fast by calling 9-1-1 after a few minutes–5 at the most–if those signs persist. Explain the benefits of calling 9-1-1, instead of getting to the hospital by car.
  
• Talk to your health care provider about your heart attack risk and what you can do to reduce it. (Rate your chances of having a heart attack.)
  
• Talk to your doctor about what you should do if you experience any heart attack symptoms.
  
• Gather important information to take along with you to the hospital. Do this by preparing a heart attack survival plan. Fill in the form, print it out, and keep copies in handy places, such as your wallet or purse.
  
• If you are concerned about your insurance coverage, call your insurance company and check on your benefits. Most insurance companies cover emergency care for a possible heart attack.

Testing For A Heart Attack

Once you get help, you will undergo tests to see if a heart attack has actually occurred. Some tests are done at the hospital, while others can be done by emergency medical personnel who come in an ambulance.

Key heart attack tests are:

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After you learn more about heart attack, try a brief quiz to see if you know what to do if you or someone else has warning signs.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Are You At An Increased Risk Of Having a Heart Attack?

• Do you smoke?
• Is your blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg or higher, OR you have been told by your doctor that your blood pressure is too high?
• Has your doctor told you that your total cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL or higher or your HDL (good cholesterol) is less than 40mg/dl?
• Has your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55 OR your mother or sister had one before age 65?
• Do you have diabetes OR a fasting blood sugar of 126mg/dl or higher, OR do you need medicine to control your blood sugar?
• Are you a man over 45 years of age?
• Are you a woman over 55 years old?
• Do you have a body mass index (BMI) score of 25 or more?
• Do you get less than a total of 30 minutes of physical activity on most days?
• Has a doctor told you that you have angina (chest pains), or have you had a heart attack?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you’re at an increased risk of having a heart attack. If you don’t know your blood pressure or cholesterol, check with your health care provider.

Heart Disease Prevention - CoQ10

More than 40% of all deaths in the U.S. are from cardiovascular disease (CVD). You have a greater chance of dying from heart disease than from cancer, AIDS, diabetes, and accidents combined. More than 2,600 Americans die each day of CVD—an average of 1 death every 33 seconds. One in 5 men and women have some form of CVD. If all forms of major CVD were eliminated, life expectancy would rise by almost 7 years.1

One of the most—if not the most—important things people can do to improve their overall health and life expectancy is to improve their heart health. Diet, exercise, and the wise use of dietary supplements can improve heart health dramatically. 2 One dietary supplement that’s extremely beneficial to heart health is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).3

What is CoQ10?

CoQ10 is a natural, fat-soluble nutrient present in virtually all cells. CoQ10 also is known as ubiquinone. That’s because CoQ10 is ubiquitous and exists everywhere there is life. CoQ10 is vital to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production.4 ATP is the energy-rich compound used for all energy requiring processes in the body. Although CoQ10 is produced by the body and exists in some dietary sources, these levels may be insufficient to meet the body’s requirements. CoQ10 levels diminish with age and as a result of dietary inadequacies and various disease states.4-6 Also, some drugs, especially a group of cholesterol lowering prescription drugs known as “statins,” (Pravachol®, Zocor®, Lipitor®, etc.) significantly reduce CoQ10 levels in the body.7,8

For what health conditions is CoQ10 used?

CoQ10 is beneficial in treating and preventing CVD and conditions such as high blood pressure,9 atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries),10 angina,11 and congestive heart failure (CHF).12 It’s been shown that heart attacks tend to occur when CoQ10 levels are low in the body.13 In addition, CoQ10 is beneficial for diabetes,14 immune dysfunction,15 cancer,16 periodontal disease,17 prostate cancer,18 and neurological disease.19

Why is CoQ10 especially important to heart health?

The heart is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body. In the average person, the heart propels 2,000 gallons of blood through 65,000 miles of blood vessels by beating 100,000 times each day.20 Thus, it requires large amounts of uninterrupted energy. Heart cells have a greater number of mitochondria, and subsequently, more CoQ10 than any other type of cell.21,22 Each heart cell can have thousands of mitochondria to meet these energy demands.23

Mitochondria are highly specialized structures within each cell and are often referred to as cell powerhouses. These tiny energy-producers produce 95% of the energy the body requires. The number of mitochondria in a cell depends on its function and energy needs. A cell’s ATP production is dependent on adequate amounts of CoQ10.21,22

Heart disease patients are commonly CoQ10 deficient. Correcting such deficiencies often can produce amazing results.24 The presence of supplemental CoQ10 is a key to the heart’s optimum performance.25

In people who have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction), CoQ10 assists in repairing the heart muscle and restoring heart function. This is due to increased ATP production.26

What CoQ10 studies support this fact?

A 1998 study found CoQ10 can provide rapid protective effects in patients with a heart attack if administered within three days of the onset of symptoms. The study focused on patients admitted to the hospital with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) diagnosis. Seventy-three patients received CoQ10 (120 mg/d). The study’s control group consisted of 71 similarly matched patients with acute AMI. After treatment, angina pectoris (severe chest pain signifying interrupted blood flow to the heart), total arrhythmia (dangerously irregular heartbeats), and poor function in the left ventricle (the essential chamber of the heart) were significantly reduced in the CoQ10 group compared to the placebo group. Total deaths due to sudden cardiac failure and nonfatal heart attacks also were significantly reduced in the CoQ10 group compared with the placebo group.27

In another study, CoQ10 was studied in 109 patients with high blood pressure (hypertension). The patients were given varying doses of supplemental CoQ10 with the goal of attaining a certain blood level (greater than 2.0 mcg/l). Most patients were on medications to treat hypertension. Half the patients were able to stop taking one to three antihypertensive drugs at an average of 4.4 months after starting CoQ10. Only 3% of patients required the addition of one antihypertensive drug. The 9.4% of patients who had echo cardiograms, performed both before and during treatment, experienced a highly significant improvement in heart wall thickness and function. This improvement was directly attributed to CoQ10 supplementation.28

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a debilitating disease that affects 5 million people in the US It causes edema, difficult breathing, and impaired circulation. In another study, CoQ10 restored healthy heart function in CHF patients. Patients received 100 mg of CoQ10 or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. Before and after the treatment period, the investigators introduced a catheter into the right ventricle of patients’ hearts to determine the degree of CHF damage to the heart muscle. The patients’ heart muscles at rest and work improved significantly. The researchers concluded CHF patients would greatly benefit from adjunctive CoQ10 treatment.29

I’ve heard that CoQ10 can also help people who have neurological diseases. Is this true?

Yes, it is. CoQ10 has been studied for its ability to improve the health of individuals with amotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),30 Parkinson’s disease,31 and Huntington’s disease.32 A recently completed study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health showed that CoQ10 caused a slowing of the progression of Huntington’s disease, a devastating and degenerative disease that is always fatal. In fact, no other medication, drug, or nutritional supplement has ever been shown to cause a decline in the progression of this terrible disease.

The study compared CoQ10 against remacemide (an investigational HD drug made by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals), in 347 HD patients who were in the early stages of the disease. Remacemide blocks glutamate, the neurotransmitter scientists think may cause the death of brain cells that occurs in Huntington’s disease.33 While remacemide had no effect on the progression of HD, CoQ10 showed a trend toward slowing the disease by an average of 15%. This meant the HD group taking CoQ10 was able to handle every day activities of life a little longer than the patients taking remacemide or a placebo. They also were able to focus their attention better, were less depressed, and less irritable. The 15% slowing of decline means that CoQ10 can result in about one more year of independence for HD patients.32 Needless to say, the gift of an additional year of health in the lives of HD patients is incredibly significant.

Because of these impressive results with HD, researchers are hopeful that the studies of CoQ10 in those with ALS and Parksinson’s disease will similarly have a positive effect on the symptoms and/or progression of these neurological disorders, too.

Why is it crucial for a CoQ10 supplement to cross the blood-brain barrier?

The brain’s blood vessels are composed of cells with extremely tight junctions. These junctions form the blood-brain barrier, which restricts what can pass from the bloodstream into the brain. While this barrier protects the brain, it can be a significant obstacle to central nervous system disorder therapy. To leave the bloodstream and reach the brain cells, a substance must pass through the tightly connected cells of the capillary walls. Only substances with unique solubility or those with a transport system can cross the blood-brain barrier to a significant degree.34-36 As a result, crossing the blood-brain barrier presents a significant challenge to supporting neurological health.

While most CoQ10 supplements enter the bloodstream and increase blood serum levels, only special forms of CoQ10 have been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier.37 For CoQ10 to enter the mitochondria within the brain, CoQ10 must first cross the blood-brain barrier to produce significant neurosupportive clinical results.

How can one supplement have applications for neurological diseases, heart health, and even the immune system?

Supplements often have more than one function, especially when it’s a substance like CoQ10, which is present in all parts of the body. All nucleated cells (most cells other than red blood cells) have mitochondria and all cells require energy to function. CoQ10 is vital to ATP production.21,22 Thus, CoQ10 has applications not only in neurological (neurons or nervous system cells) and cardiac health (myocardium or heart tissue), but also for the immune system.38

Are all CoQ10 supplements created equal? Doesn’t CoQ10 just have to get into the bloodstream to be effective?

There are some important distinctions among CoQ10 products, as they vary greatly in quality and absorbability. It’s crucial to find a CoQ10 product that’s:

1. Scientifically shown to absorb through the digestive tract, cross cellular membranes, and increase mitochondrial levels of CoQ10. Chewable forms of CoQ10 provide rapid bioavailability and absorption. Serum level determination of CoQ10 in the bloodstream is not necessarily the most important measure of efficacy. For a CoQ10 supplement to be fully effective, it must cross the cellular barrier and raise intracellular CoQ10 levels. A key indicator of effective CoQ10 supplementation is its presence in cell mitochondria37

2. The natural form of CoQ10. The natural process uses living organisms. CoQ10 also can be synthesized by a chemical process, which produces a distinctly different product that contains chemical compounds not found in the natural form.

3. Formulated with ingredients that provide the transport system CoQ10 needs to cross cellular membranes and the blood-brain barrier. Not all forms of CoQ10 have been scientifically proven to cross cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier.37 Some prestigious groups that have investigated this issue include researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.37

4. Studied by respected organizations, with research published in peer-reviewed journals by reputable scientists.

How much CoQ10 should I take?

Take 100 to 200 mg of CoQ10 daily, depending on your family history of heart disease and personal heart disease experience.

CoQ10’s safety has been evaluated. Dosages in studies have ranged from 100 mg to 1,200 mg per day. To date, no toxicities have been reported.39,40 Occasional mild stomach upset may occur. Taking CoQ10 with meals usually alleviates this rare effect.

What are some other heart-friendly supplements?

CoQ10 is an excellent supplement for overall cardiovascular health, as is L-carnitine. L-carnitine is the naturally occurring form of carnitine that’s found in food and synthesized in the body. Much of the body’s L-carnitine is found in the heart and skeletal muscle, tissues that rely on fatty acid oxidation for most of their energy. Nearly 70% of the energy needed for heart function is derived from fatty acid breakdown.41 Proper L-carnitine supplementation transports fatty acids into cell mitochondria, where it’s burned for energy. L-carnitine is an excellent addition to CoQ10, especially for people with heart disease, and has been shown to improve many symptoms associated with CVD. In one study, people who had experienced one heart attack received either L-carnitine or placebo. The L-carnitine group had a statistically significant reduction in second heart attacks, and improved overall survival.42

What supplements support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol?

In addition to maintaining overall cardiovascular health, it’s also important to address your essential fats/lipids levels and healthy circulation/blood pressure.2 Fish oil supplements can significantly reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and homocysteine levels.43-52 Choose a supplement that’s a rich source of EPA and DHA, omega-3 fatty acids naturally obtainable in fish oil. Find a product that’s been clinically studied and purified to ensure it contains the beneficial active constituents of the whole oil, while removing any dioxins, DDT, PCBs, or heavy metals, toxins present in some commercial fish oil preparations.53 An enteric-coated garlic product that provides a minimum of 5,000 mcg of beneficial allicin supports healthy blood pressure and circulation. And magnesium, niacin, vitamin E, folic acid, hawthorn extract, and L-cysteine provide overall nutritional support to the heart and vascular system.

Heart Health Conclusion - CoQ10

CoQ10 is not the only answer to the complex issues of heart disease, neurological diseases, or immune dysfunction; however, research indicates that it’s a bigger piece of the puzzle than physicians and scientists ever imagined. The more we study this naturally occurring compound, the more benefits we find.

The key to this supplement is the manufacturing quality. For safety and overall effectiveness, use a CoQ10 product that’s supported by product-specific research from reputable institutions. Choose tested products from a well respected company to increase your potential to achieve and maintain heart and blood vessel health.

Supplementation with clinically studied products can have a major impact on your heart’s health and strength. However, no supplement replaces the need to eat a healthful diet low in refined foods (especially sugar), and saturated fats, and to exercise your most important muscle—your heart—on a regular basis.

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References

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Women's Heart Attack Symptoms May Appear Up To a Month Before the Attack

New research by The National Institutes of Health suggests that women often experience heart attack symptoms as much as a month prior to having a heart attack.

515 Women where studied.

95% knew their symptoms were new or different a month or more before experiencing their heart attack - Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI).

This NIH study, titled "Women's Early Warning Symptoms of AMI," is one of the first to investigate women's experience with heart attacks, and how this experience differs from men's. Recognition of symptoms that provide an early indication of heart attack, either imminently or in the near future, is critical to forestalling or preventing the disease.

Heart Attack Symptoms Most Commonly Reported by Women

Many women experienced no chest pains at all.

• Chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks - 30%
• No chest pain during any phase of the attack - 43%

Women's major symptoms prior to their heart attack included:

• Unusual fatigue - 70%
• Sleep disturbance - 48%
• Shortness of breath - 42%
• Indigestion - 39%
• Anxiety - 35%

• Shortness of breath - 58%
• Weakness - 55%
• Unusual fatigue - 43%
• Cold sweat - 39%
• Dizziness - 39%

However, most doctors continue to view chest pain as the most important consideration when diagnosing heart attack symptoms in both men and women and men.

In a NIH press release, Jean McSweeney, PhD, RN, Principal Investigator of the study at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, said, "Symptoms such as indigestion, sleep disturbances, or weakness in the arms, which many of us experience on a daily basis, were recognized by many women in the study as warning signals for AMI. Because there was considerable variability in the frequency and severity of symptoms," she added, "we need to know at what point these symptoms help us predict a cardiac event."

Women's Heart Attack Symptoms Not as Predictable

According to Patricia A.Grady, PhD, RN, Director of the NINR, "Increasingly, it is evident that women's symptoms are not as predictable as men's. This study offers hope that both women and clinicians will realize the wide range of symptoms that can indicate heart attack. It is important not to miss the earliest possible opportunity to prevent or ease AMI, which is the number one cause of death in both women and men."

Related NIH research into heart attacks in women includes possible ethnic and racial differences.

Tea and chocolate are beneficial for cardiovascular health?

Kris-Etherton PM, Keen CL. from the Nutrition Department, Pennsylvania State University Read more...

CoQ10 Restores Healthy Heart Function

According to one scientific study* CoQ10 has been shown to:

• Restore healthy heart function in congestive heart failure patients.
• Reduce the likelihood patients needed to take high blood pressure medication.
• Provide rapid protective effects in patients with a heart attack if administered within 3 days of the onset of symptoms.

*Singh RB, Wander GS, Rastogi A, et al. Randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of coenzyme Q10 in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 1998;12:347-353.

Where can I find the best source of CoQ10 that's been researched and independently tested?

Enzymatic Therapy Coq10 Maple Chewables

Who is Enzyimatic Therapy?

Coffee's Effect on the Heart

A study out of the Netherlands found that drinking four or more cups of coffee a day could raise homocysteine in your blood to dangerous levels. (High homocysteine levels are a known risk factor for heart problems.) The researchers found that people who drank four or more cups of coffee a day had 11 percent higher levels of homocysteine in their blood than non-coffee drinkers. Switching to decaf won't help. It's a compound called chlorogenic acid that appears to trigger the increase in homocysteine levels. And, unlike caffeine, chlorogenic acid can't be filtered from the brew. - Prevention Magazine

Test Your Immune System

Does your immune system need a boost? This test by Dr. Linda Page is quick and easy.

Evidence that the antioxidant flavonoids in tea and cocoa are beneficial for cardiovascular health.

Kris-Etherton PM, Keen CL. Nutrition Department, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.

Epidemiologic studies suggest an inverse association of tea consumption with cardiovascular disease. The antioxidant effects of flavonoids in tea (including preventing oxidative damage to LDL) are among the potential mechanisms that could underlie the protective effects. Other possible mechanisms include attenuating the inflammatory process in atherosclerosis, reducing thrombosis, promoting normal endothelial function, and blocking expression of cellular adhesion molecules. Cocoa and chocolate can also be rich sources of flavonoids. Flavanols and procyanidins isolated from cocoa exhibit strong antioxidant properties in-vitro. In acute feeding studies, flavanol-rich cocoa and chocolate increased plasma antioxidant capacity and reduced platelet reactivity. Based on limited data, approximately 150 mg of flavonoids is needed to trigger a rapid antioxidant effect and changes in prostacyclin. Some dose-response evidence demonstrates an antioxidant effect with approximately 500 mg flavonoids. Brewed tea typically contains approximately 172 mg total flavonoids per 235 ml (brewed for 2 min); hence, consumption of 1 and 3.5 cups of tea would be expected to elicit acute and chronic physiologic effects, respectively. Chocolate is more variable with some products containing essentially no flavonoids (0.09 mg procyanidin/g), whereas others are high in flavonoids (4 mg procyanidin/g). Thus, approximate estimates of flavonoid rich chocolate needed to exert acute and chronic effects are 38 and 125 g, respectively. Collectively, the antioxidant effects of flavonoid-rich foods may reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Curr Opin Lipidol. 2002 Feb;13(1):41-9.

Womens Heart Health Resources

The Heart Truth
National Awareness Campaign for Women about Heart Disease
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

American Heart Association
Phone Number(s): (800) 242-8721
www.americanheart.org

WomenHeart
Phone Number(s): (202) 728-7199
www.womenheart.org

MedlinePlus: Heart Disease in Women
DHHS. NIH. National Library of Medicine.
www.nlm.nih.gov/