Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. The following are the symptoms of heart attacks and strokes and what to do:
Common heart attack symptoms include:
- Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching
- Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly
- Cold sweat
- Fatigue
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
Get help right away if you think you’re having a heart attack. Take these steps:
- Call for emergency medical help. If you think you’re having a heart attack, immediately call 911.
- Take nitroglycerin, if prescribed to you by a health care provider.
- Take aspirin, if recommended. Aspirin can interact with other drugs. Don’t take an aspirin unless your care provider or emergency medical personnel say to do so. Don’t delay calling 911 to take an aspirin. Call for emergency help first.
What to do if you see someone who might be having a heart attack
If someone is unconscious and you think they’re having a heart attack, first call 911. Then check if the person is breathing and has a pulse. If the person isn’t breathing or you don’t find a pulse, only then should you begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- If you’re untrained in CPR, do hands-only CPR. That means pushing hard and fast on the person’s chest — about 100 to 120 compressions a minute. The 911 dispatcher will guide you on how to do this.
- If you’re trained in CPR and confident in your ability, start with 30 chest compressions before giving two rescue breaths.