Dr. Patrick Withrow, a cardiologist with The Heart Group, says that prolonged chest pain is considered the telltale symptom of a heart attack, but that it’s not always simple to tell when a heart attack occurs.

Heart Attacks Vary
“Some heart attack sufferers report severe chest pain, while others only feel some chest discomfort,” explains Dr. Withrow. “And about one-third of heart attack sufferers do not feel any chest pain at all.”

Dr. Withrow says that other symptoms besides chest pain also are common during heart attacks. These include:

• left arm pain
• pain that radiates to the neck or jaw
• shortness of breath
• nausea
• dizziness
• sweating.

“Certain people are more likely than others to have an atypical heart attack—or one that is characterized by symptoms other than chest pain,” says Dr. Withrow. “They include women, younger and older adults, and people who suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure.”

Heart Attack Mimics
According to Dr. Withrow, several other conditions also cause chest pain that can feel like a heart attack:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Referred to as chronic heartburn, GERD accounts for most non-heart-related chest pain. This burning chest pain tends to occur after meals and often is relieved with antacids.
• Panic attacks. These usually last a few seconds to a few minutes. Besides chest pain, sufferers report shortness of breath, dizziness, and a fear of dying. Extreme anxiety can trigger a panic attack. So, too, can excessive caffeine.
• Angina. The pain from this condition feels like pressure or squeezing. Angina chest pain can result from physical effort, stress, temperature extremes, or a heavy meal.

Don’t Wait to Act
Dr. Withrow stresses that it is vital to get prompt treatment for a heart attack. Whenever you or a loved one experiences heart attack symptoms, he recommends using the following steps as a guideline:

• Chew an uncoated aspirin tablet as a protective step against heart damage.
• If the symptoms stop after a short time, call your doctor. He or she will tell you what action to take.
• If symptoms continue for more than 15 minutes, call emergency medical services right away.

Chest Pain and Stroke Hotline: 1-800-575-1911
Heartburn or heart attack? That can be a tough call. Here’s an easy one: 1-800-575-1911. Western Baptist Hospital’s Chest Pain and Stroke Hotline is answered 24 hours a day by registered nurses with training in cardiac and stroke emergencies. They can help you recognize the symptoms of heart attack and stroke and when to seek immediate assistance. In an emergency, of course, you should go to the closest emergency room, where doctors can begin immediate treatment.