Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Individuals are often unsure what's wrong and ignore the warning signs. Don’t wait, get it checked it out immediately. It could save your life.

• Chest discomfort: most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath: with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs: may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

Please be aware that not all individuals (including men and women) experience the most common heart attack symptom: chest pain/discomfort. Many individuals experience less typical signs including: shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain. Don’t ignore these symptoms because it doesn’t mean the heart attack is less severe or less deadly. Call 9-1-1 immediately.

Risk Factors:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure - silent killer
• High cholesterol: high LDL, low HDL
• Smoking
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Obesity
• Elderly > 65 years of age
• Hereditary

Most of the risk factors are lifestyle choices. Patients cannot change their genetic makeup, but they can control or modify many of the other risk factors.

For more details on the University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center Chest Pain Center or for a physician referral, please call 440-285-7757.