Recognize the Symptoms of a Heart Attack – Know What to Do

What are heart attack symptoms? 

Any of the following heart attack symptoms may occur in both men and women. The symptoms you experience may be different than those experienced by others. You may have only minor discomfort, while someone else has excrutiating pain.

If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Classic symptoms

• Squeezing chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Tightness in chest
• Recurring chest discomfort
• Pain spreading to shoulder, neck, arms or back
• Lightheadedness
• Heartburn, nausea or indigestion

Female heart attack symptoms

• Indigestion or gas-like pain
• Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
• Unexplained weakness, fatigue
• Discomfort/pain between shoulder blades
• Sense of impending doom or anxiety

What do I do if I experience symptoms?

If you experience any of these symptoms, it could be a heart attack.  Call 911.  Remember: time is muscle. Get to an emergency room as soon as possible to minimize possible damage to your heart. 

Chew and swallow an aspirin unless you are allergic or have been told by your doctor to never take aspirin. Take nitroglycerin if already prescribed. Do NOT take any one else's nitroglycerin.

If you've had a heart attack before, ask your doctor about the role of aspirin, plavix, beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors in preventing second heart attacks.  Also, ask for a referral to a cardiac rehab program,  recently shown to improve heart attack survival by 50 percent.