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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of A Heart Attack?

I m a 54 yr old woman. I wanted to ask about heart attack symptoms for myself. Is there a blood test or will an EKG to tell if I may have had a heart attack? Two nights ago about 9:00 pm, I had a horrific pain in my upper back start in between my shoulder blades area that sent pain to both my arms then traveled up my neck into my jaw. I took an aspirin just in case. I had a RX of Nitro from Angina so I took one, it helped a ill bit but pain was still bad! So within 5 min, I took a 2nd one & the pain finally started to go away gradually, and then had a horrible headache! Since I felt better I chose to not go to an ER because we live in a small rural town & didn t think they had a Cardiologist here. I ve had family with heart prob & have had to transport to SLC, UT since there wasn t one here. Now I feel stupid! Had this happened to my husband or family I would have called 911 or took to ER myself! But when it s me I don t want to cause worry or inconvenience my family & convince myself it will go away! Should I be concerned it can happen again?
Tue, 2 Aug 2016
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Thanks for asking at Healthcare magic.I read your question and I understand your concern.
You should not be worried regarding the recent pain because heart attack can't be relieved with Nitro alone.Only primary PCI or thrombolytics can relieve severe pain of heart attack.
Secondly esopagitis pain can present like this and can be relieved with Nitro.
Heart attack typical symptoms are;
severe stabbing pain in chest,diffuse in nature,radiating to neck ,left jaw and left arm associated with cold sweating ,nausea and vomiting .Sometimes heart attack presents with pain in stomach region.
Heart attack can be diagnosed by two out of three of following.
1.ECG
2.sign and symptoms
3.cardiac enzymes

If you are already on Nitro then you should be planned for Coronary angiography to be on safe side.
Hope it helps best.
Don't forget to rate this answer.
Take your best care
Regards
Dr Ejaz
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of A Heart Attack?

Thanks for asking at Healthcare magic.I read your question and I understand your concern. You should not be worried regarding the recent pain because heart attack can t be relieved with Nitro alone.Only primary PCI or thrombolytics can relieve severe pain of heart attack. Secondly esopagitis pain can present like this and can be relieved with Nitro. Heart attack typical symptoms are; severe stabbing pain in chest,diffuse in nature,radiating to neck ,left jaw and left arm associated with cold sweating ,nausea and vomiting .Sometimes heart attack presents with pain in stomach region. Heart attack can be diagnosed by two out of three of following. 1.ECG 2.sign and symptoms 3.cardiac enzymes If you are already on Nitro then you should be planned for Coronary angiography to be on safe side. Hope it helps best. Don t forget to rate this answer. Take your best care Regards Dr Ejaz