Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack
If you think you are having a heart attack, please all 911 immediately. Timely treatment is necessary for the best outcome after an attack. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack can save your life or the life of your loved ones. Signs and symptoms include:
- Chest discomfort–Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It 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, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
The most prominent symptom in women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are somewhat more likely than men to have the other common symptoms particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Spartanburg Regional's Nationally Accredited Chest Pain Center has partnered with the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care in support of Early Heart Attack Care (EHAC).
EHAC is:
- A campaign intended to educate everyone as to the early symptoms of a heart attack in order to prevent the heart attack from ever occurring. Preventing the heart attack prevents heart damage.
- A plea to the public to be responsible, not only for themselves, but for those around them who may be experiencing early heart attack symptoms, and to help them obtain immediate treatment.
- A public education program that concentrates on benefits of receiving early treatments, and activating emergency medical services.
Unlike most programs that promote recognition of the signs and symptoms of an impending heart attack, the EHAC initiative encourages early recognition when symptoms may be mild. For the 50 percent of people experiencing these symptoms, the heart attack can be prevented with early treatment – before any of the damage to the heart can occur.
What should I do?
Committing to these three steps can help reduce the debilitating effects of an unnoticed heart attack:
- Learn the early signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
- Share EHAC with others.
- Take the EHAC Oath.
For more information heart disease and prevention, visit the www.scpcp.org and click "EHAC".
Take the EHAC Heart Attack Pledge