Commonly Ignored Heart Attack Symptoms

Heart attack and stroke are two of the most recognized cardiovascular events for good reason: every year about 720,000 Americans have a heart attack and 800,000 experience a stroke. In addition to these similar rates, these two medical emergencies also share a similar root cause. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot blocks the supply of blood to the heart, while the majority of strokes result from blocked blood flow to the brain. A quick medical response is crucial during a heart attack, as the risk of death or permanent damage to the heart increases the longer it goes without adequate blood supply. Symptoms of a heart attack may appear hours, days or even weeks before the actual cardiovascular event, so it is important to be aware of the warning signs and know when to seek medical attention.