My Heart Attack-
Every Heart Attack is Different.
-        Readers Share Their True Heart Attack Experiences


"I Had Just Had The Best Day of My
Life"

Related Links:

Index of Other Heart Attack Stories

My Heart Attack--"I Thought I Had Asthma"
"They Gave My Husband Indigestion Medicine But He Was Having a
Heart Attack"

"I Thought It Was Just Nausea But I Was Having a Heart Attack"

My Heart Attack--"I Had a Silent Heart Attack"

"My Job Drove Me to Have A Heart Attack at Age 37"



The following story was e-mailed to Collective Wizdom.com by
Janet H. of Eugene, Oregon:


'I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 pm
with NO  prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would
suspect might've  brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on
a cold evening, with my  purring cat in my lap, reading an  
interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking,'A-A-
h, this is  the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with
my feet propped  up.'

A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when
you've  been in a hurry and grrrrrrRRRR!  'After that had seemed to
subside,  the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that
seemed to be   racing up my  SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my
aorta spasming),  gaining speed as they continued racing up and
under my sternum (breast bone,  where one presses rhythmically
when administering CPR).

This fascinating  process continued on into my throat and
branched out into both jaws.  'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about  
what was happening--we all have read and/or heard about pain in
the jaws being  one of the signals of an MI  happening, haven't we?  


I said aloud to  myself and the cat, 'Dear God, I think I'm having a
heart attack !' I lowered  the foot rest, dumping the cat from my
lap, started to take a step and fell on  the floor instead. I thought to
myself 'If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't  be walking into the next
room where the phone is or anywhere else.......but,  on the other
hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I  wait any
longer I may not be able to get up in moment.'



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What Are the "Classic Symptoms" of a Heart Attack for
Men and Women?

Almost everyone has seen the Hollywood version of a classic
heart attack. We expect to see Fred Sanford (remember
"Sanford & Son?) grabbing his chest, staggering with a
wrenched look on his face, yelling "It's the Big One!"

But, it turns out, what a heart attack looks like to others, and
feels like to you, may be very different.

Here are the symptons the American Heart Association says
you should look out for:

Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie
heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But
most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.
Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too
long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a
heart attack is happening:
  • 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   

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is
chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more
likely than men to experience some of the other common
symptoms, particularly shortness of breath,
nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you're not sure it's
a heart attack, have it checked out. Minutes matter! Fast
action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more
than five minutes to call 9-1-1.
Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving
treatment. Emergency medical services staff can begin
treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if
someone gets to the hospital by car. The staff are also trained
to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with
chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster
treatment at the hospital, too.
If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS),
have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you're
the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you
have absolutely no other option.
Source: American Heart Association
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