Heart attack diagnosis begins with recognizing the symptoms and seeking prompt medical care.
Imaging tests can also help with the diagnosis.
Self-Check
Thesigns and symptomsof a heart attack can vary from one person to the next.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
For some, there may be overt signs with tell-tale symptoms.
Heart attacksymptoms like chest pain (angina) usually last more than a few minutes.
For women, chest pain is the most common symptom.
AMI is defined as an elevation in keycardiac biomarkers(substances in blood consistent with a cardiac event).
Cardiac Biomarkers
Cardiac biomarkers are substances released into the blood when the heart is damaged or stressed.
The procedure involves the connection of a series of electrodes to your chest and limbs.
Commonly, 10 electrodes are attached to form 12 ECG leads.
Each of the 12 leads reads a specific electrical impulse.
Imaging
Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and characterization of a heart attack.
The different techniques can describe the nature of the arterial blockage and the extent of the heart muscle damage.
Examples include:
How Can You Tell the Difference Between a Heart Attack and Anxiety?
A heart attack andanxiety attackcan cause similar symptoms, but they may have subtle differences.
Since it’s hard to tell the difference, seek emergency care if you experience any of these symptoms.
Early treatment for a heart attackcan limit damage to the heart and improve your chances of survival.
Summary
The symptoms of a heart attack can vary from one person to the next.
Nausea, vomiting, and jaw pain are commonly experienced in women, but less so in men.
All genders commonly have chest pain or pressure that lasts more than a few minutes.
Many other conditions can cause symptoms that resemble heart attacks, such as anxiety and pulmonary embolism.
Get immediate medical attention at the first sign of a heart attack, even if your symptoms seem mild.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart disease facts.
