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