Common signs and symptoms of heart attack in men
Symptoms of heart attack (myocardial infarction) can vary from one individual to another. Even the symptoms of one episode are different from that of another episode in the same person. Some symptoms of heart attack appear suddenly while others give plenty of warning.
A heart attack occurs early in men as compared to women. Men are more likely to get an attack (myocardial infarction in men) if they have:
- A family history of heart disease
- A history of cigarette smoking
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Obesity
Some common signs and symptoms of heart attacks in men are given below:
Chest pain
Chest pain is a commonly occurring symptom of a heart attack. Mostly, the pain starts slowly with mild discomfort and the intensity gradually increases. In few cases, sudden onset of severe pain can happen, but it is seen rarely.
Chest discomfort or pressure
Along with pain, there are certain other signs that are also common in a heart attack. A feeling of fullness, squeezing, or pressure can be felt by the patient, which seems as if an elephant is sitting on the chest. Sometimes, these signs are mistaken for heartburn.
The discomfort usually happens in the left portion or in the center of the chest. The feeling may come and go or it may also last for several minutes and may also intensify.
Pain in other parts of the body
Pain and discomfort can also be experienced in other areas of the body because other parts are also unable to get enough blood. Areas of the body above the waist, such as the upper part of the stomach, the shoulders, one arm (probably the left) or both arms, the back, the neck or jaw and even the teeth are affected.
Shortness of breath (medically known as dyspnea)
It can happen with or without chest pain. Sometimes it is the only symptom experienced by a patient. It can occur anytime irrespective of the patient being active or not. It happens due to congestion (fluid build-up) in the lungs.
More: Human Heart: Anatomy, Function, Chambers, Location, Facts
More: Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack): Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Other symptoms of heart attack in men (symptoms of myocardial infarction in men)
There are some other symptoms that can show up in men when heart attack occurs. Some of these are:
- Coughing and wheezing
- Rapid and irregular heartbeat
- Feeling tired for no reason
- Feeling anxious
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach discomfort with a feeling of indigestion
- Feeling light-headed or dizzy
- Breaking into a cold sweat
The number of symptoms experienced by a person indicates the severity of the attack. The more the symptoms, the more are the chances of having a heart attack. A silent heart attack occurs when there are no symptoms. It is more common in older men and men with diabetes.
