Heart Attack Symptoms

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the most common heart attack symptoms include:

URGENT: Get to the hospital immediately, if you experience any signs of a heart attack!
Call 911 or your local emergency number.

Chest discomfort
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
Other signs include breathing out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

TIP: According to the AHA, taking one 325-milligram aspirin at the onset of symptoms lowers the risk of dying by 23 percent!

Some cardiac arrests are sudden and intense, but most of them start slowly with mild pain or discomfort with one or more of the above mentioned symptoms.

Research

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. American Heart Association, 2005 Update

Organizations

American Heart Association

American Stroke Association