A heart attack is often mistaken as a cardiac arrest especially for people who are misinformed. In actuality, both conditions are very different from each other as based on the fact that a cardiac arrest is that situation when the heart stops beating while a heart attack is a disorder caused by oxygen shortage. A cardiac arrest does not mean that there is a heart disorder as it could a complication of some other disease. A heart attack, which is also called a myocardial infarction, is when shortage of oxygen interrupts the blood supply to a particular part of the heart. Tissue death could happen to that area of the heart that did not receive sufficient oxygen.

As it is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide, knowing the signs of a heart attack is very necessary. Just knowing makes the difference between life and death. Among the misconceptions of a heart attack that is not necessarily true is the belief that is always a “chest-grabbing” incident. Many people who is already having a heart attack would just so often misconstrue it as just heart burn or chest muscle pains and it is not even a discomfort that happens only at one time. They could come as recurring symptoms that may feel mild at the onset but would get severe the next day until the actual heart attack occurs.

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To make sure that you are not putting yourself or your loved ones in serious danger, here are some signs of heart attack that you should know and look out for.

A feeling of discomfort in the middle of the chest is the most classic sign of a heart attack. The pain could be sudden and dull and could subside after just a few minutes. This kind of discomfort at the chest usually comes back. Aside from mild to severe pain, an uncomfortable squeezing pressure of even fullness may also be felt. This discomfort at the chest is actually due to the shortage of oxygen in the heart muscle. Some of the pain will actually spread to the left arm, lower jaw, back and stomach region.

Sudden shortness of breath is also another sign of heart attack. The reason for this is the limited output on the left part of the heart, which could eventually damage the heart. Other heart attack signs such as sweating, nausea, weakness, vomiting, lightheadedness and palpitations will also be experienced. While there are others who lose consciousness when having a heart attack, there are still others who die immediately at the onset.

Heart attack signs among females vary a little. Weakness, dyspnea and fatigue are among the most common signs. It is also reported that for a period of about a month, they go through sleep disturbances before the actual heart attack occurs.
Pain or discomfort will not be felt by all persons with heart tissue damage. In fact, classic chest pain or other signs of heart attack is not exhibited in almost 30% of heart attack cases. This is only confirmed though after a medical investigation is performed.

People who have the genetic disposition or family history of heart attack, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high LDL levels and low HDL levels are at risk for heart attacks. This is also true for people who smoke, drink excessively, eat fatty foods, do not exercise and are stressed. These habits cause severe damage to the body and can prove to be fatal in the end.