Heart Health
Heart attacks strike in different ways
Don't rely on the typical symptoms to guide your actions.
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
Mention heart attack, and many people think of a man clutching his chest in pain. But the symptoms are often subtle, and the underlying process causing the heart attack can differ.
"Heart attacks are defined by damage to the heart muscle from a limitation of blood flow, but there are multiple ways this can occur," says Dr. Stephen Wiviott, a cardiologist with Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. "Regardless of the cause, this damage can result in permanent reduction of heart function or even death. This is why it's so important for people to recognize the different signs, so they know when to seek care."
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About the Author
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
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