Heart attack symptoms may begin days, or even weeks, before the actual event occurs, which is why early detection is crucial to prevention. Studies show that men and women experience many of the same symptoms, but men typically feel chest pain first, while women will often develop shortness of breath and nausea. Early warning signs of a heart attack include:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint
• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders

You may also experience symptoms of a mini-heart attack. These include:

• Chest pain that lasts more than 10 minutes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Sweating

Age, diet, lack of exercise, obesity, and other medical and non-medical factors can increase your risk of a heart attack. The risk of heart attack increases significantly for men at age 45 and for women at age 50 (post-menopause).  Other risk factors include:

• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Family history of heart disease
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Stress

Diagnostic Tests
Diagnostic tests detect and record the electrical activity in your heart to determine if you have an irregular heartbeat. Your doctor may recommend any of the following:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This is the first test that is run to diagnose a heart attack. Sticky patches (electrodes) are attached to your chest to record electrical signals as they travel through your heart.
• Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray shows the condition and size of the heart and lungs.
• Echocardiogram: Ultrasound waves create images of the moving heart. This test can show how blood moves through the heart and heart valves, and identify damage. 
• Coronary catheterization (angiogram): A long, thin tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery, usually in the leg, and guided to the heart. Dye flows through the catheter to help the arteries (and potential blockages) show up more clearly during the test.

Imaging Tests
Imaging tests pinpoint the location of a clot by creating images (often very detailed) of your heart. These tests include:

• Cardiac CT: X-rays used to evaluate the structure of the heart and alert your doctor to problems with your valves, arteries, or aorta.
• Cardiac MRI:  uses a magnetic field and radio waves to detect areas of the heart that have been damaged. A heart MRI also shows how well your heart’s chambers and valves are working, as well as the quality of blood flow. 

Blood Tests
Blood tests may also be ordered to determine if you’ve had a heart attack in the past. A blood test looks for specific chemical markers called “heart proteins” that can leak into the blood after a heart attack has occurred.

The most common risks and side effects associated with heart medications include: 

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Stuffy nose
• Back and leg pain
• Diarrhea
• High potassium levels
• Fluid buildup—swelling

In more serious cases, your doctor may recommend surgical intervention to repair or replace damaged valves and arteries and restore blood flow. At CVM, we specialize in the most advanced procedures to treat heart attack symptoms before they escalate, including:

• Angioplasty
• Radiofrequency Ablation
• Stent Placement
• Valve Replacement 
• Atherectomy
• Bypass Surgery

Many of these procedures involve inserting a catheter directly into a blood vessel to clear a blockage. In some cases a stent is placed at the site of the blockage to help keep the affected artery open. Another option your doctor might recommend is a coronary bypass. Bypass surgery is more invasive than other procedures, and is done to reroute blood to healthier arteries.