| When patients are sent home undiagnosed | | | | · Weakness |
| after a heart attack, they do not | | | | If a patient displays these or other |
| receive the treatment they need to avoid | | | | heart attack symptoms an ECG or EKG and |
| permanent injury, and are at risk for | | | | blood tests should be performed |
| another heart attack, and may die. Heart | | | | immediately. Elevated levels of the |
| attacks are a very common medical | | | | enzyme tropan, in the blood, can |
| emergency, but are often overlooked or | | | | indicate a heart attack. Another enzyme, |
| misdiagnosed in emergency rooms and | | | | called Creatine phosphokinase (CPK), can |
| during regular doctor visits. When a | | | | indicate tissue or muscle death. If |
| heart attack is quickly detected and | | | | these tests indicate the likelihood of a |
| treated, further damage can be avoided. | | | | heart attack, more extensive tests |
| Most patients not only survive, but | | | | should follow. |
| recover well and can live a normal life. | | | | Common misdiagnosis |
| When an impending heart attack is caught | | | | Because heart attack symptoms are |
| before it occurs, it can often be | | | | similar to symptoms of other medical |
| prevented, which is even better. | | | | problems heart attacks are often |
| Predicting heart attacks | | | | misdiagnosed as: |
| Doctors and emergency room staff can | | | | · Heartburn |
| often anticipate an imminent heart | | | | · Acid reflux |
| attack by: | | | | · Anxiety attack |
| · Carefully reviewing patient history | | | | · Musculoskeletal pain |
| · Conducting a thorough physical exam | | | | · Bronchitis |
| · Electrocardiogram testing (ECG or | | | | · Pneumonia |
| EKG) | | | | · Esophagitis |
| · Blood tests | | | | · Angina |
| Detecting heart attacks | | | | · Gallstones |
| When a heart attack is not anticipated | | | | Common mistakes that led to undiagnosed |
| and prevented, it can still be treated | | | | heart attacks |
| successfully if quickly recognized. | | | | Besides simply mistaking heart attack |
| Prompt treatment can save a heart attack | | | | symptoms for those of other health |
| patient's life and/or prevent permanent | | | | problems, doctors and emergency room |
| injury. In order to properly diagnose a | | | | staff sometimes don't consider the |
| heart attack, health care professionals | | | | possibility of a heart attack in people |
| must recognize and respond to the | | | | who seem unlikely victims. Women are at |
| symptoms. These symptoms include: | | | | a much greater risk than is commonly |
| · Chest pain | | | | believed, and young people can suffer |
| · Pain radiating through the shoulder, | | | | heart attacks. Certain medications and |
| arm, or jaw | | | | other underlying health problems can |
| · Indigestion symptoms | | | | cause heart attacks in people who don't |
| · Nausea | | | | obviously fit the profile for a heart |
| · Dizziness | | | | attack candidate. |
| · Shortness of breath | | | | |