heart attack

The most common symptoms of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or go and return. Discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It can be mild or severe. Heart attack pain can sometimes feel like indigestion or heartburn.

The symptoms of angina can be similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. Angina is chest pain that occurs in people with coronary artery disease, usually when they're active. Angina pain usually only lasts for a few minutes and go with the rest. Angina is not gone or has changed from the usual pattern (occurs more frequently or occurs at rest) may be early signs of heart attack and should be checked by a doctor immediately.

Other common signs and symptoms that a person can have during a heart attack include:
Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
Shortness of breath often occur with or before chest discomfort
Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, lightheadedness or fainting, or breaking out in a cold sweat

Not all people experience the typical symptoms of a heart attack. If you've had a heart attack, your symptoms may not be equal to one another. More signs and symptoms you have, the more likely you are having a heart attack.

Sometimes the signs and symptoms of heart attacks occur suddenly, but they can also develop slowly, over hours, days, even weeks before a heart attack occurs.

Know the warning signs of a heart attack so you can act quickly to get treatment for yourself or others. The sooner you get emergency help, the less damage there will be on your heart.

Ask for help in 5 minutes if you think you may be having a heart attack or if chest pain does not disappear as usual is not when you take medication as prescribed.