Heart Attack

The heart pumps blood and oxygen throughout the body, but it also depends on a supply of blood and oxygen to do its work. A heart attack happens when one of the arteries that brings blood to the heart muscle is blocked. A portion of the heart muscle is damaged or dies due to inadequate blood flow.

Symptoms

The most common warning signals of a heart attack are:

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing, tightness, heaviness, or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes

• Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck, arms, or jaw

• Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath

Less common warning signs of heart attack are:

• Stomach or abdominal pain; indigestion-like discomfort in the chest, especially with activity

• Nausea or dizziness

• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

• Unexplained anxiety, weakness, or fatigue

• Palpitations, cold sweat, or paleness

First Aid

If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 911 and get to the hospital as quickly as possible. Do not drive yourself. Take an aspirin (not ibuprofen or acetaminophen).

Know the Signs of a Heart Attack

• Crushing, squeezing, burning feeling in the chest

• Feeling of pressure in the chest

• Chest pain that spreads to the jaw, arms, neck, or back

• Chest pain not relieved by rest or prescribed medication

• Chest pain lasting longer than 15 minutes

• Nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, sweating

• Chest pain while resting or that wakes you from sleep