NorthStar's Recommendation: Call 9-1-1!
Know the signs and symptoms of a Heart Attack. Call 9-1-1. Feel free to print this out and give it to a loved one!
Signs of a Heart Attack
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense (see Hollywood depictions) but most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected are not sure what is wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are the signs:
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involved discomfort in the center of the chest that last more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs include: breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
For women, the most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
If you or someone you're with has one of these signs, don't wait longer than a few minutes (no more than 5) before calling for help.
Dial 9-1-1 fast. Heart attacks are life-and-death emergencies - every second counts. If you see or have any of the listed symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1. Not all these signs occur in every heart attack. Sometimes they go away and return. Even if only some occur, get help fast! Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services staff can begin treatment when they arrive - up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. The staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too. Time is muscle. Today heart attack victims can benefit from new medications and treatments unavailable to patients in years past. For example, clot-busting drugs can stop some heart attacks in progress, reducing disability and saving lives. But to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after heart attack symptoms first appear. Don't delay, don't be "considerate" of the EMS staff, don't "wait to see if it goes away", don't feel embarrased for calling. Get help right away! Call 9-1-1. Information adapted from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's "Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs"
