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Heart Disease - The Camouflage Killer
By: John D. McCourt, M.D. University Medical Center (Las Vegas) Emergency Department

Heart disease (coronary artery disease) is the single leading cause of death in the United States. Although great technical advances have been made in the evaluation and treatment of acute cardiac disease, 480,000 people die from heart attacks each year in the United States (American Heart Association).

The reason for so many deaths is the fact that most people don’t recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and don’t seek medical treatment until it’s too late. When we think of heart attacks, we often associate them with a pain in the right arm or chest, but not too many people realize that symptoms can also mimic those associated with indigestion.

The following information may help you recognize the signs and symptoms of heart disease.

1. First of all, what exactly is a heart attack?

Heart attacks result when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is partially or totally blocked. The decrease or loss of blood supply to the heart results in heart muscle damage. The end result is sudden death or long term disability from heart failure.

2. What are some of the common symptoms?

Acute heart injury may be present with many other different symptoms because of individual differences in the perception of pain. Chest pain is the most common presentation and is usually described as "crushing, heavy, squeezing, left-sided chest discomfort." This pain is classically accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea and cold sweats.

3. What are some of the less common symptoms?

Heart attacks can be camouflaged and the pain can be confused with indigestion. More uncommon locations of the pain include the arms, the jaw, the left shoulder, and the upper back. In some instances, pain can be absent and the complaint of shortness of breath, weakness, fainting, nausea, palpitations, or cold sweats may be the only warning signs of acute heart disease.

4. What are some of the causes?

The most common cause of coronary heart disease is the buildup of fat in the lining of the arteries. Common risk factors for this process include diabetes, hypertension, tobacco abuse, elevated blood cholesterol and a family history of coronary artery disease at an early age.

5. What are the chances of surviving a heart attack?

Sudden death related to coronary artery disease is the most prominent medical emergency in the United States today. Of the patients who died from heart attacks, fifty percent will do so before reaching the hospital. Cardiac care is time-dependent, and patients fortunate enough to make it to the hospital receive the most benefit in the first few hours, thus a sense of urgency is mandatory!

The success of emergency cardiac care depends upon a person’s understanding of the importance of early recognition and early medical evaluation. If you suspect you or someone you know is having a heart attack, seek immediate help immediately! Every moment counts.

John D. McCourt, M.D. University Medical Center (Las Vegas) Emergency Department