Early treatment is essential in heart attack. All too many men wait until the pain is “bad enough” before seeking medical attention, by which time heart damage has become extensive. Medical treatment administered within the first hour of a heart attack often can stop the attack and prevent damage to the heart. However, statistics show that the average length of time a man waits to seek medical care is four to six hours.
Every man should know the classic signs of
heart attack, which are:
• Crushing or dull chest pain that radiates into the left shoulder and neck
• Feeling of being unable to breathe
• Nausea and sometimes vomiting
• Profuse sweating (diphoresis)