Heart Attack Symptoms

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, while others may begin slowly with mild pain or discomfort that can last for a few minutes or several hours. If you're at risk of a heart attack or experience any warning signs of a heart attack, Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock provides comprehensive cardiovascular care diagnosis and heart attack treatments.

Comprehensive and Personalized Cardiovascular Care in Turlock

Risk factors refer to health conditions, lifestyle, age and family history that can increase your risk for heart disease. Studies show that 47 percent of Americans have at least one of three key risk factors for developing heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.

Although some risk factors for heart disease, such as your age and family history, cannot be controlled, you can choose healthy habits to help manage your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar to lower your risk for heart disease and heart attack.

At Emanuel Medical Center, you can count on our experienced cardiac care team to provide compassionate care in every stage of your cardiovascular health journey. Our cardiovascular care program includes a cardiac catheterization and interventional laboratory and a heart attack receiving center to provide you with a comprehensive cardiac care diagnosis.

If you're recovering from a cardiovascular condition, our dedicated team of physicians, registered nurses, physical therapists and nutritionists will closely work with you to create a personalized recovery treatment plan. Our goal is to help you regain strength and get back to doing the things you love.

Don't take chances with your heart health! Fill out our physician referral form or call 855-604-4263, and we'll connect you to our dedicated staff to provide helpful information about our cardiologists and assist you in making an appointment.

What Is a Heart Attack?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 800,000 people in the United States have a heart attack each year.

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, is a life-threatening medical emergency when the blood flow that brings oxygen to a part of your heart muscle slows down or becomes blocked. Although heart attacks are treatable if diagnosed early, the heart muscle will begin to die if blood flow is not restored quickly.

Are you at risk for a heart attack? Take this free online heart health assessment to understand your heart attack risk factors and prevent a future cardiac event.

What Are the Four Silent Signs of a Heart Attack?

The symptoms of a heart attack differ from person to person. It can begin with sudden and crushing chest pain or slow and mild. Heart attack symptoms may also come and go over several hours. You can have a heart attack and not even know it. These are called silent heart attacks or silent myocardial infarction (SMI) and are more common in older adults and people with high blood sugar or diabetes.

Seek medical attention right away if you experience one or more of the following silent heart attack symptoms:

Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest that lasts for several minutes or goes away and comes back
Discomfort in other upper body areas, such as one or both arms, the back, the neck, the jaw or the stomach
Shortness of breath before or during the chest discomfort
Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

Can You Have a Heart Attack and Not Know It?

Yes. SMI accounts for 45 percent of heart attacks and is more prevalent in men than women. Silent heart attacks lack the intensity of a classic heart attack, so people can mistake for less severe problems or regular discomfort.

The most common symptoms of a heart attack in men and women are:

Discomfort in the center or left side of the chest
Stabbing pain in both arms, back, shoulders, neck, jaw or above the belly button
Sudden shortness of breath when resting
Nausea or dizziness

What To Do If Someone Is Having a Heart Attack?

Every minute matters when someone has a heart attack. Call 911 immediately if you think you or someone else may have a heart attack. The emergency medical services (EMS) team can begin treatment when they arrive sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped.

Learning the symptoms of a heart attack and fast action can save lives. Remember, the longer the heart goes without oxygen, the more damage it causes to the heart.

Why Choose Emanuel Medical Center for Your Cardiovascular Care?

When it comes to your heart, you need someone you can trust. Emanuel Medical Center has been in the heart of healthcare in Turlock and its surrounding cities for decades, providing high-quality care with compassion.

Your health is our top priority. We follow a systematic, protocol-driven approach that helps physicians perform lifesaving cardiovascular treatment procedures during the critical early stages of a heart attack. When you come to us for help, we have an accredited heart attack receiving center and an emergency department integrated with the local emergency medical system.

Our range of services includes a comprehensive spectrum of diagnostic testing, allowing us to pinpoint various conditions. We provide advanced cardiac care, including interventional cardiology procedures and open-heart surgery. Our care extends to the post-surgical period, and we then supervise cardiac rehabilitation and continue to monitor your heart health.

Insurances Accepted and Payment Plan Options

Let us take care of you at Emanuel Medical Center. We accept various insurance providers, flexible spending accounts and other healthcare savings plans. We offer payment plans for most treatments and procedures. Learn about our flexible payment plans and convenient bill payment options so you can make decisions about your healthcare.

If you have questions about your coverage, our dedicated staff is ready to help put your mind at ease. Please call 800-346-0775 for your billing and insurance questions or visit our patient financial resources page, so you can get all the information you need, including financial obligations. Please contact your insurance provider directly if you have specific questions about your coverage.

Find a Cardiologist in Turlock

If you have concerns about your heart health, Emanuel Medical Center can help you understand your condition. Please speak with one of our experienced cardiologists for proper diagnosis and advice on the best possible care for your cardiovascular health.

In a non-emergency situation, please call 855-604-4263 to connect to a heart care provider who can help you or find a doctor here. Read more about heart diseases and conditions in our cardiovascular glossary section.

Don't put a close call on hold! If you're experiencing heart attack symptoms, call 911 immediately – every second counts.