National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
Science and Practice Ideas for Promoting Health
When in Doubt, Check it Out -
Is it
a Heart Attack?
Many people think a heart attack is sudden and intense, like a "movie" heart attack, where a person clutches his or her chest and falls over. The truth is that many heart attacks start slowly, as a mild pain or discomfort. Someone who feels such a warning sign may not be sure what is wrong. The discomfort-and other symptoms-may even come and go.
Learn the signs. These include:
- Chest discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, or in the back, neck, or jaw.
- Shortness of breath: This symptom often comes along with chest discomfort. But it also can occur before the chest discomfort.
- Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, weakness, dizziness, or light-headedness.
The good news is that there are now effective treatments. Clot-busting drugs and other artery-opening treatments can stop a heart attack in its tracks. Given immediately after symptoms begin, these treatments can prevent or limit damage to the heart. To be most effective, these treatments need to be given within 1 hour of the start of heart attack symptoms.
Remember, "Fast Action Saves Lives."
If you or someone you are with begins to have chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs of a heart attack, call 9-1-1 right away. Don't wait for more than a few minutes-5 minutes at most-to call 9-1-1. If you are having symptoms and cannot call 9-1-1, have someone else drive you to the hospital right away. Never drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other choice.
For more information, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has an online catalog of information for health professionals and consumers on how to prevent and manage coronary heart disease. Much of it is downloadable free of charge, or available in printed form for a reasonable cost. Please point your browser to http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/emails/heartatk.htm. You can also email nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov, or call 301-592-8573 (9 a.m.-5 p.m., EST, M-F) for more information.
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