Signs of a heart attack
In short: chest pain or discomfort, especially with shortness of breath, sweating or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, may be a heart attack. Call 911 or your local emergency number straight away. Don't drive yourself to hospital.
The main signs
- Chest pain or discomfort: pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the centre or left of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
- Pain or discomfort elsewhere: in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
- Other signs: cold sweat, feeling sick, light-headedness or unusual tiredness
Symptoms can be subtle
Not everyone has crushing chest pain. Women, older adults and people with diabetes are more likely to have less typical signs, such as shortness of breath, nausea, back or jaw pain, or extreme tiredness. If something feels wrong, take it seriously.
What to do
- Call 911 or your local emergency number. Emergency staff can start treatment on the way to hospital.
- Sit down, rest and try to stay calm.
- Follow the advice of the emergency call handler. They may tell you to chew aspirin if it's safe for you.
- If the person collapses and isn't breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED (defibrillator) if one is available. The call handler can guide you.
Why speed matters
Treatment to restore blood flow to the heart works best when given quickly. Waiting to see if it passes can cause lasting damage.
Lowering your risk
Don't smoke, stay active, eat a balanced diet, keep to a healthy weight, and get your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked. Ask a doctor about your own risk.
Sources
- NHLBI (NIH): Heart attack: symptoms
- CDC: Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery
- MedlinePlus: Heart attack