| This year, between four and five million Americans will be assessed in the emergency department for chest pain. Of these, about 1.5 million will be diagnosed with a heart attack. Early diagnosis and treatment of a heart attack significantly reduces the potential for death. It is very important to seek medical treatment immediately when the signs and symptoms of a heart attack occur. Heart attack symptoms include: - Pressure or crushing pain in the center of the chest that may radiate down the left arm or into the jaw area;
- Sweating;
- Nausea; and/or
- Shortness of breath.
Any chest pain that lasts more than 10 minutes could be a sign of a heart attack. If you are experiencing such pain, please go to the nearest emergency department. Although chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack, it can also result from other medical problems. Non-heart-related causes of chest pain can include indigestion, gallbladder attacks, pleurisy, muscle strains, a broken rib, viral infections or a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Some of these problems are serious, but others are not. Baptist Hospital East's Emergency Department has the resources to care for them all. |
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