Heart attack symptoms

These feelings can signal heart attack:

a tightening, pressure, squeezing or aching in your chest or arms
a feeling of indigestion
a feeling of fullness
a sharp burning or cramping pain
an ache, weakness or numbness that begins in or spreads to your neck, jaw, throat, teeth, back, shoulder or back of your arms
a discomfort in your neck or upper back, particularly between your shoulder blades

Especially if they are accompanied by:

breathing problems or shortness of breath
nausea or vomiting
cold sweats
paleness
generalized weakness or severe fatigue
anxiety
strong, rapid heartbeats or palpitations
dizziness

Pain from angina is often relieved by rest and nitroglycerin. Heart attack pain is usually prolonged and may persist after 15 minutes of resting. A nitroglycerin tablet may only provide temporary or incomplete relief. If the pain is relieved, it usually returns.

What do I do if angina or a heart attack occurs?

If you feel symptoms of angina or heart attack, follow these steps unless your health care provider has given you other instructions:

Take one nitroglycerin tablet or use one nitroglycerin spray. Sit for 5 minutes.
If the angina goes away, rest for a while, then continue your normal routine.
If the angina does not go away or gets worse, call 911 right away. Do not delay. Do not drive yourself to a hospital emergency room or urgent care.

Should I take aspirin during a heart attack?

If you have any heart attack warning signs, call 911 right away. Then, the American Heart Association recommends taking an aspirin as soon as the warning signs of a heart attack occur. Research shows that taking an aspirin when symptoms start significantly improves chances of survival for people having a heart attack. Do not take an aspirin if you have an allergy to aspirin.