Health e-Actions: Heart Attack: Know the Symptoms and Take Action

Heart Attack: Know the Symptoms and Take Action

More than 1 million people in the United States have heart attacks each year. Many of them don't act quickly enough to make it to the hospital in time for help. When a heart attack happens, delay in treatment can be deadly.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart suddenly becomes blocked and the heart muscle can't get oxygen. If not treated quickly, the heart muscle fails to pump and begins to die.

Learn more about heart attacks and watch a video of how your heart works.

Heart attack warning signs (sudden or unexpected onset):

• Your chest hurts or feels squeezed.
• One or both arms, your back, shoulders, neck, or jaw hurts.
• You feel like you can't breathe.
• You feel light-headed or break out in a cold sweat.
• You feel sick to your stomach, or your stomach hurts.
• You feel really, really tired.

Learn more about heart attack signs and symptoms.

Minutes matter!

• If you think you might be having a heart attack (or even if you're not sure), call 9–1–1 immediately. Don't wait!
• Quick treatment can save your life—when in doubt, check it out.
• Remember, the first few minutes matter when you are having a heart attack.

“One evening I felt pressure in my chest and tingling down both arms. I just didn't think I could be having a heart attack. I didn't expect it to happen to me. The next morning, I still had a strange sensation in my chest. I called the doctor and was sent to the hospital. Considering how many first heart attacks are fatal, I was lucky to be alive the following morning to seek medical help.” —Ann Steigler (shown)

Why do you choose to be heart healthy?

Fill in the blank: “I choose to be heart healthy because _____.”

Some of the responses shared on The Heart Truth® Facebook page:

• I want to feel good!!!
• I survived a heart attack and I want to live!
• I want to grow old with my husband and see my grandchildren (and hopefully great-grandchildren) grow!
• I'm a Survivor!
• I don't want my children to know what it feels like to lose their mom when they are in their 20s like I did. I am heart healthy in her memory and for their future.
• I have much living to do!
• My life depends on it!
• It runs in my family. My dad died from heart disease. I have an 8-year-old son: I want to see him grow up and see my grandchildren!!!
• I want to live to 100! ♥

Visit The Heart Truth Facebook page to see all the beautiful photos that groups and individuals shared to show their support for National Wear Red Day^®.

The Director's Corner: The NHLBI celebrates National Wear Red Day 2012
Here on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus, we held the first National Wear Red Day “flash mob.” Led by passionate staff members, we gathered in the NIH Clinical Center to send a thank-you message to the incredible teams—scientists, doctors, nurses, clinical trial participants, educators, volunteers, and many others across the country—who are working to advance heart disease research and clinical care. View the flash mob video.

Heart Health Resources

New! Heart Attack Resources

• Heart Attack: Know the Symptoms. Take Action. Wallet Card (shown)
• Don't Take a Chance With a Heart Attack: Know the Facts and Act Fast
• Learn What a Heart Attack Feels Like—It Could Save Your Life

The Heart Truth Resources

• The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women
• The Heart Truth for African American Women: An Action Plan
• The Heart Truth for Latinas: An Action Plan (en español)

^® The Heart Truth is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
^® National Wear Red Day is a registered trademark of HHS and the American Heart Association.