Know the Warning Signs
The main warning signs for both men and women are:
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes. It may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. The discomfort may be mild or severe, and it may come and go.
Angina is a pain or discomfort in the chest that
occurs when the heart muscle is not getting
enough blood due to the buildup of plaque in the
arteries. It is not a heart attack, but if you have
angina, you are more likely to have a heart
attack. The pain may feel like pressure or
squeezing in your chest, or may also occur in
your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
Stable angina—a type with a predictable
pattern—can be brought on by a physical or
emotional strain, but unlike a heart attack, is
usually relieved by rest or medicine. Unstable
angina is less predictable, may not be relieved
by rest or medicine, and is a sign that you may
have a heart attack very soon. If your pain does
not go away within 5 minutes after rest and/or
medicine, or gets worse, call 9–1–1 immediately.
Angina
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, including one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Shortness of breath. This may occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs include nausea, light-headedness, or
breaking out in a cold sweat.
Calling 9–1–1 Can Save Your Life
If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack, calling 9–1–1 quickly can prevent disability or death. Emergency medical personnel can begin treatment even before you get to the hospital. They have the equipment and training to start your heart beating again if it stops. Wait no more than a few minutes—5 minutes at most—before calling 9–1–1.
Time is crucial because the clot-dissolving
medicines and other treatments that can stop a heart attack work best when given within the first hour after a heart attack starts. Even if you’re not sure if you’re having a heart attack, call 9–1–1. If your symptoms stop completely in less than 5 minutes, you should still call your doctor.When you get to the hospital, ask for tests that can
show whether you are having a heart attack. Speak up.
Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re overreacting. You have the right to be thoroughly examined for a possible heart attack.
Prepare a Heart Attack Survival Plan
Be sure your family, friends, and coworkers know the warning signs and what to do if you should have a heart attack. Write down medications you take, any medicines you are allergic to, and phone numbers for your doctor and a person to contact in an emergency.
Give this information to family members and keep a copy at home and at work.
U.S.DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute