The chest pain that typically occurs during a heart attack is triggered by an acute blockage of one of the coronary arteries, usually caused by coronary artery disease (CAD). The abrupt blockage is due to a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque in the arterial wall.
Once the coronary artery becomes clogged, the heart muscle being supplied by the artery becomes severely ischemic or deprived of oxygen. If the ischemia lasts longer, the heart muscle cells start to die.
The death of the heart muscle is a characteristic of a heart attack. Remember that heart attacks typically produce evident symptoms which includes chest pain or discomfort.
Characteristics of chest pain
The chest pain that occurs during a heart attack is strikingly similar to the classic angina but has the tendency to be severe and lasts longer. The pain is similar to a pressure-like, crushing, squeezing or tight pain that oftentimes radiates up to the jaws, arms or the shoulders.
There are cases in which the pain is often “atypical” Oftentimes, it does not involve the chest at all, but localized in the back, stomach area or one or both arms. Additionally, it might not be perceived by the individual as pain at all, but simply as a discomfort.
Aside from the chest pain or discomfort, some individuals often experience dyspnea as well as sweating, nausea, weakness or unexplained fatigue. The difference with angina is that the symptoms usually persist and often builds for at least the initial 15-20 minutes.
The symptoms usually develop abruptly but this is not always true. Take note that the symptoms of a heart attack can slowly build up over a span of hours or even days. In addition, the symptoms are often accompanied by a feeling of intense fear or a sense of impending doom.
What should I do?
Any individual who experiences symptoms that resemble a heart attack requires immediate medical care. If it is truly a heart attack, minutes can mean a difference between a long life or permanent disability of even death. Call for emergency assistance right away.
Once the individual arrives in the emergency department, the assessment of the doctor includes a careful medical history and a physical exam that often points out to a diagnosis and an ECG.
The cardiac enzymes are also measured in the blood tests to help confirm a diagnosis. Assessment of a possible heart attack should be done right away since early and aggressive treatment can preserve the heart tissue and drastically reduce the risk for disability.