What Are The Symptoms Of Heart Attack?

Posted on Tue, 21 Apr 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 21 Apr 2015 Answered on

Mon, 18 May 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I think I had a heartattack but they said no at the emergency room
but I had the worse pain in my left arm before I went and it was unbearable. they did an ekg but it said I didn't have one could it be wrong

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Not likely to be wrong

Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic

Typical history, EKG changes, and elevated cardiac markers (enzymes) – are the three things to make a diagnosis of heart attack.

Normal EKG is reassuring but cannot definitely exclude an attack. They do blood tests / repeat the EKG after a few hours
When the pain is not typical and the EKG is normal, nothing further is done at the moment.

Days later, a stress EKG (Treadmill Test - TMT) or stress ECHO is done – to exclude underlying possibility of ischemia. They may also estimate risk factors, like cholesterol etc…

Good luck
God bless you

Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar