Your heart is like the engine that runs your car. Anything that interferes with the heart's function must be immediately recognized and treated to prevent possible irreversible damage. Heart disease is the number 1 killer in developed countries, and heart attacks are recognized as the most obvious sign of heart disease. Each year, approximately 1.5 million people suffer a heart attack in the United States.
Pain sometimes radiates out to the shoulders, neck, or arms.
Chest discomfort or pain with shortness of breath, restlessness, cold clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, or loss of consciousness. Uncontrollable factors include family history of heart disease, age over 65, and being male. Controllable factors include cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, high-fat diet, and physical inactivity. Initial treatment may include oxygen, nitroglycerin, low-dose aspirin, or strong pain medication. Antiarrhythmic drugs may be used to control abnormal heart rhythms, and -blocker drugs may be given to help reduce the risk of further heart muscle damage.