Heart attack/Myocardial infarction

Dan, about 1 year

Hi. I'm 21, quite skinny but I have a rubbish diet. Weetabix for breakfast and chocolate spread on toast for lunch every day for about four years. I was just lying on my bed and I twisted to sit up and suddenly I had a huge pain in my chest right beneath my right nipple. I stopped dead and tried to breathe deep but it hurt even more. My pulse was quite fast. After a few minutes it stopped hurting. The same sensation hit me running up the stairs a few days ago. I often find when I sit at a computer a deep cold sensation sets into my the back of my right shoulder and I have to lie down and rub my shoulder to get rid of it. I haven't needed to see a doctor since I was 12 and I don't think I even have a doctor anymore. Wouldn't even know where to go. I used to smoke about 15 a day but stopped when I was 18 and I'm nearly 22. I don't really exercise but must have a high metabolism because I only weigh 9 1/2 to 10 stone. Is there any chance at 21 that it could be signs of a heart attack? Or am I just over-reacting? Dan. Y

kim, about 1 year

i had a heart attack 10/02/08 16 weeks ago i felt sick but had no pain in my chest or arms.After being sick i made it to my bed feeling awful the pain at this time was in my neck and back . my husband lucky for me had seen both parents stuck with attacks and knew to call the ambulance they arrived a very short time later and confirmed it i was indeed having a full blown attack with no history of chest pain etc i was shocked to say the least. I was taken to hospital by this time it felt like an elephant was on my chest 3 hours later i was in theatre and they fitted a stent to the right side i have to take a lot of tablets but this is a small price to pay for the years i put my body threw hell smoking eating junk food choc etc i feel now is the time for me to stop the abuse and start looking after my body its just a shame it took this to wake me up it great to know that i am not alone great sight

Chrissy, about 1 year

I was having pains down both my arms & a little pain in my chest. I thought it was either indigestion or I had pulled a muscle. One night 2 weels ago I was woken up with the pain, I vomitted & was sweaing badly. I still didnt think it was my heart. I made an appointment with my GP who booked me in for an ECG & blood tests. He then told me he thought that I had had a MI & he wanted me to go straight to hospital. I was in shock, I told my GP he must be wrong as surely I would have know if I had a heart attack. From then on my feet never touched the ground. I was taken into hospital given drugs & ECGs & questions. Next day I was transfered to another hospital where they have an excellent conorary unit. More drugs & ECGs & questions. Then taken into the lab where they decided to put a shunt into my heart valve. This was done while I was awake & it didnt hurt just a little uncomfortable. The next day I was shown the pictures that were taken of my heart. I was told 3 valves were damaged in total. Two at the back & the one they repaired at the front. They are going to control the back two valves with medication & of course I must change my lifestyle too. This has been a wake up call for me & my family. I am going to re-educate myself into getting fit & staying well. I still cant believe I have had a heart attack at 49.

ann little, over 2 years

i,am 51 yrs a family history of heart problems i had an heart murmur while giving birth to my first child now i get some pain deep under the left breast and it hurt more if i took deep breaths if i sit stil for some time it eases off im scared of going to the doctors i have had a trace done it came out ok but my cholestaol is a bit high can you advise me please thank you

Trevor, over 2 years

i Have just had these symptoms happen to me 3 times in the last hour. I've had Flu, ok girls maybe just a cold for 8 days now so im putting it down to that,as im still here. My arm still getting some quick shooting pain above my elbow but my chest feels fine now and i feel ok. So my symptoms were: my chest felt over a 60 second period like 8 out of 10 pain and when i tried to breath in it took it to 9 out of 10 at the same time my right arm had shooting pain above my elbow going upwards 4 out of 10 pain. I was also sweating with this but as i say i have a bad cold. a bit of panic but that as also gone now as feel fine apart from little pain in my arm. any advise as to what happened to me. Cant be heart attack as im still here alive and kicking fine. Thanks

emma, over 2 years

it is a brilliant site for information on heart attacks and so on but i needed the history of heart attack ie when it was first diagnosed and how did they treat it.

Beth Croshaw, over 2 years

i found this artical l very very usefull as my dad died from a sevre heart attack when i was only 10 years of age and my brother was only7 years of age