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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is A Heart Attack Painful?

Is it unbearable painful or more like a bad stitch?
Sat, 19 Dec 2009
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Most patients describe the pain of a heart attack to be like a pressure, or the feeling of an elephant sitting on their chest instead of a "stabbing" pain. When the heart doesn't get enough oxygen, it causes this pain, because lactic acid builds up and irritates the nerves. Patients with diabetes often have nerve damage or neuropathy, so they sometimes can't even feel it, and women often feel pain in their back or arm or jaw instead of their chest!
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.
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Is A Heart Attack Painful?

Most patients describe the pain of a heart attack to be like a pressure, or the feeling of an elephant sitting on their chest instead of a stabbing pain. When the heart doesn t get enough oxygen, it causes this pain, because lactic acid builds up and irritates the nerves. Patients with diabetes often have nerve damage or neuropathy, so they sometimes can t even feel it, and women often feel pain in their back or arm or jaw instead of their chest!