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

Know the Signs of a Heart Attack

• Crushing, squeezing, burning feeling in the chest
• Feeling of pressure in the chest
• Pain that spreads to the jaw, arms, neck, or back
• Pain not relieved by rest or prescribed medication
• Pain lasting longer than 15 minutes
• Nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, sweating
• Pain while resting or that wakes you from sleep

Why You Should Learn CPR

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. When you learn CPR, you learn a skill that may save a person's life. You use CPR when someone is not breathing or does not have a heartbeat. With CPR, you can keep oxygen in the person's blood and keep blood moving so oxygen gets to the brain and other organs.

It is not a good idea for you to try to learn CPR from a book. You need to follow certain steps in an exact order for CPR to work. You also need to act quickly and go through the steps at the right pace.

The American Heart Association (AHA) approves classes and teachers for CPR. In these classes, you practice on dummies. A trained teacher will show you how to tell when someone needs CPR. The teacher coaches you to make sure you know how to do the right thing at the right time. Call your local AHA chapter to find out where and when classes are taught in your area. You can also call the American Red Cross.

If you took a class a long time ago, call about a refresher course.

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 [Tylenol]).