A
heart attack occurs when an artery supplying your heart
with blood and oxygen becomes blocked. This loss of
blood flow injures your heart muscle. A heart attack
generally causes chest pain for more than 15 minutes,
but it can also be "silent" and have no symptoms
at all.
Many people who suffer a heart attack have warning symptoms
hours, days or weeks in advance. The earliest predictor
of an attack may be recurrent chest pain that's triggered
by exertion and relieved by rest.
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Someone
having an attack may experience any or all of the following:
Uncomfortable pressure, fullness or squeezing pain in the
center of the chest. The pain might last several minutes or
come and go. It may be triggered by exertion and relieved
by rest.
Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen
Discomfort or pain spreading beyond the chest to the shoulders,
neck, jaw, teeth, one or both arms
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
Sweating
Nausea
If you or someone else may be having a heart attack:
Don't tough out the symptoms of a heart attack for more than
five minutes. If you don't have access to emergency medical
services, have a neighbor or a friend drive you to the nearest
hospital. Police or fire rescue units may also be a source
of transportation. Drive yourself only as a last resort, if
there are absolutely no other options, and realize that it
places you and others at risk when you drive under these circumstances.
Consider taking an aspirin if your doctor has previously specifically
recommended that you take an aspirin if you ever think you're
having a heart attack. But seek emergency help first, such
as calling 911. Take the aspirin just as your doctor advised.
If you haven't talked to your doctor about taking aspirin
if you think you may be having a heart attack, then don't
take aspirin. If you take an aspirin and it turns out that
you have another condition, you risk putting yourself in more
danger.
Take nitroglycerin, if prescribed. If you think you're having
a heart attack and your doctor has previously prescribed nitroglycerin
for you, take it as directed. Do not take anyone else's nitroglycerin,
as that could put you in more danger.
Begin CPR. If you are with a person who might be having a
heart attack and he or she is unconscious, tell the 911 dispatcher
or another emergency medical specialist. You may be advised
to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Even if you're
not trained, a dispatcher can instruct you in CPR until help
arrives.
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