There are numerous accounts of folks who have had a heart attack behind the wheel and survived the episode. Sheer luck probably helped in some cases. A bit of homework should be credited with success in others.
Recognizing the signs of a heart attack can significantly increase a victim's chances of survival, according to the American Medical Association, which publishes the Family Medical Guide (Wiley, $45).
Among the wealth of health and medical information in this book, which is also available on the internet, the following excerpts offer advice on how to recognize and react to symptoms of a heart attack.
While symptoms differ from person to person, so can the type and intensity.
A heart attack is caused by a blockage, usually a blood clot in one of the arteries the feeds oxygen-laden blood to the heart. As a result, part of the heart muscle is permanently deprived of oxygen. Cells in that area begin to die. The damaged region loses its ability to contract and to compensate the remaining heart muscle needs to work harder to pump blood through the body. The more time that passes without treatment to restore the flow of blood, the greater the damage to the heart muscle.
Usually, the first sign of a heart attack is a pain in the centre of the chest. This onset has been described as a tightness, pressure, or squeezing. This pain, which can be severe, can spread to the back, left arm, neck, jaw, upper abdomen, and even to the right arm. It may last a few minutes, fade, and return.
Should you experience this and you're driving along the freeway, pull over immediately. If the pain or discomfort lasts for more than a couple of minutes, pull out your cell phone and dial 911.
A more complete list of symptoms includes:
indigestion or persistent upper-abdomen pain;
shortness of breath;
heavy sweating;
chills;
nausea and vomiting;
dizziness or fainting;
paleness;
blueness of lips, hands and feet.
Some of these symptoms can be produced by other conditions, such as indigestion, overexertion, or angina. The major difference with angina is that it's normally caused by a partial blockage in an artery and does not result in permanent damage to the heart.
Anyone experiencing such signs of a heart attack should sit or lie down immediately, according to the AMA guide.
If they last longer than two minutes, call for help and tell them you're having a heart attack.
Don't try to drive yourself to the hospital or emergency room.
Keep warm and stay calm.
Don't fret about being a worry wart or being wrong about your symptoms. Better to look stupid than be stupid and ignore what could be irreversible damage to your heart.
