What if I have the warning signs of a heart attack?
Answer: You should know the symptoms of a heart attack so that you can get immediate medical help. The most common symptoms are:
- Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
- Pain that spreads from the chest to the shoulders, jaw, or arms.
- Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath.
These symptoms may be severe from the start, or they may be mild at first, then gradually worsen. In some people, the warning symptoms come and go.
If you experience any symptoms of a heart attack, get medical help immediately. Be sure you know the phone number so you can get emergency transportation to the hospital. If you are having a heart attack, getting to the hospital fast is very important. Medical treatment, including clot-dissolving medicine, can save lives and reduce damage to the heart muscle, but only if it is started very soon after a heart attack occurs.
Talk with your doctor about the symptoms of a heart attack and what to do if you experience them.
