Question about heart attack symptoms..

Christopher561 · Post by **Christopher561** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 4:27 am

Ya strange topic from someone who's almost 18 years old.

last night around 12 I started to have a pain in my wrist.. This pain then traveled throughout my whole arm and a little bit of my neck. This was on my left arm by the way. I then started to have a little bit of pain in my left leg also.

I have not strained my arm at all. the pain just started small and then grew and grew. My heart then started to feel a little irregular.. and then I started to get a semi crushing pain in my chest.

This seems all so strange to me. because I'm only 17 and turning 18 in may. my dad has had a heart attack about 3 years ago.. and when my doctor heard about that heart attack then wanted me to get a blood test.

I know its stupid to ask if I should be alarmed about this because this is kinda odd for me to be having these symptoms at my age.. and I was just wondering is it possible to have an heart attack around my age?

Massa · Post by **Massa** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 4:39 am

Unfortunately Christopher.. it is possible to have a heart attack that young. The symptoms you described are rather accurate, so I would reccommend an immediate blood workup for HDL/LDL and if your physician is concerned he may order an EKG. The main thing I would stress here is that you should not do nothing. Go see your doctor and get this sorted out.

If you are overweight or have a high fat diet these may be contributing factors. Please keep us posted and all the best.

Dave

Christopher561 · Post by **Christopher561** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 4:50 am

I think I know why I'm having this.. I'm really stupid and I started to smoke in.. August of the summer.... I would only smoke about 5 cigarettes a day and sometimes none... It depended if I was in a social situation.. and lately I have been drinking coffee.... one thing I have been doing this week is I quit cold turkey on.. Tuesday and haven't smoked since. and I have been using coffee as a alternative to smoking. which is probably a stupid thing to do.. but I just want to quit and then I slowly stop the coffee. My mother also smoked in the house for about 7 years so I always gotten 2nd hand smoke.. but since my dad had the heart attack she doesn't smoke inside anymore.. and just like I said 3 years ago.. I had a blood test to check me and everything came out good.

Sounds kinda strange but I took some Bayer aspirin. just in case..

ColdFusion · Post by **ColdFusion** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 4:53 am

Yes those are definate symptoms of a heart attack. It usually starts as a dull ache over the chest area and it may radiate to the shoulder and down the arm. You may also feel pain in your jaw. Did it feel almost like a squeezing pain above your heart ?

Another major sign is denial. The majority of people deny the fact that they could possibly be having a heart attack.

If you experience a shortness of breath at all you need to tell someone (your parents, call a doctor, if its really severe, call 911). Remember ... its better to be safe than sorry.

Very good point by Massa is not to panic. If this is actually something the last thing you want to do is put stress on your heart by getting excited. Just remain calm.

Matt

blebs · Post by **blebs** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:04 am

Don't try to rationalize. Just go get yourself checked out. It may not be a heart attack, but it may be signs of other problems such as an aortic aneuysm. If it's one of those and it blows, your done bud. You buy the farm and there is no tomorrow.

Croc · Post by **Croc** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 3:33 pm

blebs99 wrote:Don't try to rationalize. Just go get yourself checked out.

Now that's some sound advice.

Go get checked out and check in here when you're done.

Croc.