Crushing chest pain. Arm, back or jaw pain. Light-headedness. Is it a heart attack or something else? Learn the warning signs of a heart attack.

Call 911

Call right away if you or someone near you has these symptoms:

• Chest discomfort, such as uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes. Note: It may go away and come back again.
• Discomfort in other upper body areas. This includes places like one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
• Breaking out in a cold sweat or feeling nauseated or light-headed.

If you suspect a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Your local emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin diagnosis and treatment when they arrive.

Also, remember that some heart attacks may start slowly with mild symptoms before becoming serious. Others strike suddenly and intensely. Either way, get help immediately.

Signs may be different for women

Chest pain is the most common heart attack symptom for men and women. However, women may experience other symptoms, like shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack happens when arteries can’t get oxygen-filled blood to your heart muscles. Narrowing (or blockage) of your arteries is caused by a buildup of plaque. Your heart needs oxygen to work properly.

Plaque, which is made of fat, cholesterol and other substances, can narrow your artery walls over time. If a piece of plaque breaks off, it can be covered by a blood clot that blocks an artery. That’s a heart attack.

Sudden cardiac arrest is an emergency too

Cardiac arrest, which is different from a heart attack, happens when the heart stops beating. It can quickly lead to death. A malfunction of the heart’s electrical system can cause an irregular heartbeat that stops the heart from pumping blood properly.

If someone collapses, call 911 immediately. Someone trained in CPR can help until EMS personnel arrive. Anyone (trained or not) can use an automated external defibrillator (AED) device, found in a box on walls in many public places and workspaces. Simple instructions will help you know where to place pads on the victim so that the portable device can detect an abnormal heart rhythm or a heart stoppage and shock the heart back to a normal beat again.

How to prevent another heart attack

Follow these steps:

• Take your medications as prescribed.
• Do cardiac rehabilitation.
• Get enough sleep.
• Manage risk factors, like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
• Stop smoking.
• Manage your stress.
• Eat healthy food.
• Get active.

Concerned about your heart health? If you have questions about your heart and are not experiencing an emergency, visit our cardiology physician directory to set up an appointment with one of our specialists.

Sources: Coffey Communications; American Heart Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute