Urgent: Questions about the symptons of a heart attack

[soccerbud34]

I maybe paranoid but...

A couple minutes ago, i suddenly felt this pain (feeling as though someone was taking a needle and stabbing it againt my heart) in my chest (right above my heart), and it became more apparent when i tried to take deep breaths.

But the pain went away in less than a minute.

But right now, even though the chest pain is gone, i feel as though blood is gushing down my left arm, and i feel a bit lightheaded and somewhat short breathed.

But then, i just came back from a weight lifting work out about 20 mins ago.

However, although i was feeling sore before the chest pain, but not lightheadedness nor short of breath and definitely not feeling as though blood is gushing down my left arm.

Should i call for medical help or those signs are simply signs of fatigue from working out?

thanks for any suggestions

 

[Thegonagle]

When in doubt, call someone!

 

[minendo]

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. This feeling often comes along with chest discomfort. But it can occur before the chest discomfort.
[*]Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness


From Here

 

[ggavinmoss]

Whatever that is... I get it occassionally. I usually just breathe through them (not too deep at first, as it's painful).

Anyone know what that is?

-geoff

 

[soccerbud34]

i just called my mother, she told me to take a couple aspirin pills ... would that help if i am indeed having a heart attack?

 

[Derango]

yea, asprin can help.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: soccerbud34
i just called my mother, she told me to take a couple aspirin pills ... would that help if i am indeed having a heart attack?

Yes, aspirin thins the blood and makes it easier for the blood to flow.

 

[aphex]

I would call a doctor just to be safe...

 

[soccerbud34]

was looking around the house ... can't find any aspirins ... are advils or tynenols aspirins?

 

[OpalFrost98GT]

The pain in the LEFT arm is a definite sign of a heart attack. Any sweating? I would go get checked out ASAP if it were me.
I had a similar situation a few years ago...it turned out that my bloodpressure was through the roof!
They had to give me like 5 nitro pills to get it under control!
Don't ever take chest pain lightly...better to be safe than pushing up daisies.

 

[skyking]

Quit d!ck!ng around on the computer for medical advice. Go to a doctor for this stuff, if it is unusual, get it checked out, period.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: soccerbud34
was looking around the house ... can't find any aspirins ... are advils or tynenols aspirins?

Advil is ibuprofen. Tylenol is acetaminophen.

 

[AU Tiger]

Advil and Tylenol do not work. It is the aspirin (key ingredient) that thins the blood.

 

[soccerbud34]

Originally posted by: OpalFrost98GT
The pain in the LEFT arm is a definite sign of a heart attack. Any sweating? I would go get checked out ASAP if it were me.
I had a similar situation a few years ago...it turned out that my bloodpressure was through the roof!
They had to give me like 5 nitro pills to get it under control!
Don't ever take chest pain lightly...better to be safe than pushing up daisies.

my body is not sweating at all ... but both my palm are getting sweaty ...

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

The vast majority of people who present to the ER with chest pain have not had a heart attack . . . then again if you DO have an MI you typically have little concern for what the vast majority of people experience.

Clinical features that DECREASE the probability of MI in patients presenting to the ED with acute chest pain:
LIKELIHOOD RATIOS 0.2-0.4
pleuritic chest pain (does it hurt with breathing)
chest pain sharp or stabbing
positional chest pain (does the pain change with body position)
chest pain reproduced by palpation (does it hurt if push "here")

Clinical features that INCREASE probability of MI in patients presenting with acute chest pain:
pain in chest or left arm
chest pain radiating to either arm (bilateral radiation has likelihood ratio of 7.1 and is the single factor most closely associated with MI)
history of MI
nausea/vomiting
diaphoresis (sweating)
hypotension (LOW blood pressure)

Panju et al. Is this patient having a Myocardial Infarction? Journal of the American Medical Association, Oct 14, 1998. 280(14):12561263.

 

[Thegonagle]

Are you still with us? If you're still having the same pain, I would seriously call someone to give you a ride to your friendly local emergency room. (Maybe you shouldn't drive).

It's better to be safe than sorry.

Brutuskend's boss recently died of a heart attack because he thought he'd be tough, and the pain would go away. He finally got to the emergency room way too late (DOA, for all I know).

 

[GrumpyMan]

Go to a doctor and stop asking computer geeks for medical advice. A friend of mine died this way. The internet is a great place for information not medical checkups. Get an EKG now.

 

[Azraele]

When in doubt, get checked out. Heart attacks are nothing to mess with.

 

[Harvey]

Most of us are geeks, not doctors. Ask us about your sick 'puter, not your heart. Get to an MD immediately, if not sooner.

Hope all's well.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I've had symptoms like that before, and it was diaged that I have heart murmers. That's when the heart gets out of rythm from a minute or so. It hasn't happened recently, thankfully.

 

[her209]

Me got heart mumur too