Heart attack 101

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Symptoms

The Hollywood version of a heart attack—hand clutched to heart, profuse sweating, gasping in agony—is only for the big screen. In reality, heart attack symptoms can vary from person to person.

Heart attack symptoms include:

• Chest discomfort, such as chest pain, pressure, or tightening that can last for a few minutes or an hour or more, or can come and go
• Discomfort in the upper body, such as tightening in the arm, shoulder, jaw, neck, or upper back
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea, vomiting
• Sweating
• Extreme fatigue
• Lightheadedness

Sometimes, a heart attack is only diagnosed after it’s happened, which is called a silent heart attack.

If you’re in doubt about whether you are experiencing a heart attack, don’t wait it out. Call 911 right away.

Don’t drive yourself or let someone else drive you to the emergency room. Call an ambulance as soon as you notice symptoms. Many people wait too long, decreasing their chances of survival and increasing damage to their heart. Hospitals are equipped with life-saving treatments that can prevent further damage to your heart if you are in the midst of an attack. The treatments can even help prevent an attack before it happens.