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Symptoms of Heart Attack
- Chest discomfort that may last more than a few minutes or go away and come back. It may feel like squeezing, fullness, pressure, or pain.
- Pain or discomfort in the upper body, including arm, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or below the breastbone.
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath (with or without chest pain).
- Sweating or “cold sweat.”
- Indigestion, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting.
- Light-headedness, dizziness, or extreme weakness.
- Anxiety or rapid or irregular heartbeats.
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Wait for Emergency Help to Arrive
- Do not drive to the hospital unless you have no other option. Ambulance personnel can start care as soon as they arrive.
- If there is no history of aspirin allergy or bleeding, emergency response may ask the person to chew one 325 mg aspirin slowly.
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Follow Up
- At the hospital, an emergency department doctor will examine the person and run tests to see if chest pain stems from a heart attack or another cause. Tests may include an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, and blood tests.
- Inform the person’s doctor about the chest pain and ER visit.
