Chest Pressure, Cold Sweats: Early Heart Attack Symptoms Often Missed

A blockage in the heart’s blood vessels can be likened to a major highway that suddenly closes, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.

When this happens inside the body, blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart muscle are cut off, causing heart tissue to begin deteriorating. This situation is known as a heart attack and is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

Dr. Jeffrey D. Adipranoto, Sp.JP (K), FIHA, FESC, FSCAI, a cardiologist at Mayapada Hospital Surabaya, explained that heart attack symptoms can vary widely and are not always recognized early.

“Patients may feel a heavy or pressured sensation in the chest, pain that radiates to the left arm, jaw, or back, accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, and cold sweats. Because the symptoms are not always typical, many patients arrive at the hospital when their condition has already worsened,” he said.

In heart attack cases, time is a decisive factor. The faster the blocked heart vessel is reopened, the greater the chance of saving heart tissue.

This window is often referred to as the golden period — the critical first hours after a heart attack begins.

Responding to this, Dr. Jeffrey said heart attack treatment is tailored to each patient’s condition and the severity of the blockage.

“Heart attack management generally starts with emergency medications to stabilize the patient,” Dr. Jeffrey said.

Doctors may then perform cardiac catheterization to reopen the blocked vessel. In some cases of severe blockage, heart bypass surgery — or Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) — may be required.

“All of these measures aim to restore blood flow to the heart muscle as quickly as possible, so that tissue damage can be limited and the risk of complications minimized,” he said.

From this explanation, it can be concluded that a heart attack is a serious condition that demands fast and accurate treatment.

Responding to symptoms early is not only crucial for saving lives, but also for reducing heart muscle damage and lowering the risk of long-term complications.

To support emergency cardiac care, Mayapada Hospital, through its Cardiovascular Center, provides a 24/7 Cardiac Emergency service supported by on-site specialist and subspecialist teams.

Emergency assistance can be accessed by calling 150990 or by using the Emergency Call button on the MyCare app. In heart attack cases, emergency action follows international standards, including Primary PCI with a target door-to-balloon time of under 90 minutes.

This service is integrated with a Chest Pain Unit, a preventive service designed to enable rapid and accurate early detection of heart problems through multidisciplinary collaboration.

Patients with chest pain can undergo an initial screening at no cost if test results show no heart-related disorder, while those with indications of cardiac issues will be promptly referred for further treatment.

In the same vein, Mayapada Hospital Surabaya (MHSB) is introducing a Heart & Vascular Center — an integrated cardiac service center that handles everything from prevention and screening, to comprehensive diagnosis, and advanced therapies for a wide range of heart conditions, including complex cases.

The service is built on three main pillars: Advanced Treatment, Emergency Excellence, and Team-Based Management, with the aim of delivering thorough, coordinated, high-quality cardiac care.

Throughout the treatment process, patients will be supported by a Cardiac Advisor to help them understand each stage of care, guide them to the appropriate subspecialist, and ensure coordination with the medical team runs smoothly.

The service is equipped with up-to-date technology, ranging from Coronary Angiography (CAG) and complex PCI procedures to Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) support, and is set to begin operating in February 2026 on the 8th floor of MHSB.

Heart health information from Mayapada Hospital doctors is available on the MyCare app under the Health Articles & Tips feature.

In addition, users can monitor fitness using the Personal Health feature, which tracks heart rate, step count, calories burned, and Body Mass Index (BMI).

Indonesianpost.com | CNNIndonesia