|
|
Article: Not all heart attacks are preceded by chest pain
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- July 31, 1988
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
|
`Like an elephant sitting on my chest." "A fiery pain that
spreads into my arm and neck." "A dull ache above my breastbone."
"A burning feeling like you get from eating spicy food."
Those are ways different people describe how a heart attack or
the heart disease that leads to it feels. The discomfort and pain
are signals to their victim to get help.
But doctors are becoming increasingly aware that severe heart
disease and even the damage that occurs from a heart attack don't
necessarily cause symptoms, specifically pain. In fact, some heart
disease specialists say that many, if not most, of the episodes of
heart damage due to underlying heart disease are painless.
Chest pain isn't ...