In television shows and movies it’s easy to tell when a man is having a heart attack. Often, the actor involved will clutch his chest, moan or scream, and then fall to the ground in agony while luckily help is already on the way. However, in reality, the signs and symptoms associated with a heart attack are rarely so clear and easy to notice. While sometimes male heart attack symptoms can be similar to the ones that appear in Hollywood films, many people don’t experience anything quite as dramatic as this. A lot of people find that they simply feel a sense of vague discomfort, pressure, or heaviness in their chest.
When looking out for male heart attack symptoms, there are three common symptoms to look out for: chest pain, chest pressure, and chest discomfort.
All Heart Attacks are Different
It’s probably no surprise to learn that chest discomfort will accompany male heart attack symptoms. However, it’s important to remember that the feelings you experience are likely to be different from those experienced by other men in the same situation. Some people describe the experience as pain or pressure, whereas others feel a tightness or burning. This discomfort in your chest during a heart attack can either emerge very quickly, or very slowly, and symptoms can disappear within an instant, or last for quite a long time.
Studies suggest that men often report far more chest pain during a heart attack than women, and there are also more men that generally find their symptoms are brought on as a result of exertion. Interestingly, if you already suffer from diabetes, you can have a heart attack without feeling any pain whatsoever. It’s also possible to feel numerous other symptoms besides your chest discomfort, including pain in the stomach, arms, jaw, neck, or back. Some people find that they feel lightheaded, or nauseous, whereas others have abdominal discomfort that is often described as being similar to heartburn.
When to Get Help
If, at any time during your life, you have reason to believe that you may be suffering from a heart attack, even when the symptoms are not the same as those you’ve seen on television, make sure that you don’t attempt to make your own way to the hospital. Call 911 immediately and ask them to send an ambulance to your location. Remember that emergency responders aren’t only offering you a ride to the hospital, but also have heart medications, pain relievers, and oxygen on board that can help to keep you in a better condition. What’s more, the equipment in an ambulance allow professionals to monitor your heart rate and vital signs, collecting possibly life-saving information that will give the hospital a head-start on your treatment.
No matter how unsure you feel about your symptoms or what’s going on with your body, discomfort in your chest is not something that should be ignored. Call an ambulance the moment that you start to feel unusual or unwell, and don’t avoid visiting a doctor simply because you’re not sure whether it’s a heart attack or not.
