How to tell if you're having a heart attack, and what to do next
Is it a heart attack? A guide
Date published: 1/28/2007

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and heart attack, the sudden blockage of blood flow to the heart, is one way that heart disease reveals itself.

Each year about 1.2 million Americans suffer a heart attack. If you become one of them, here's some information that could save your life.

Is it a heart attack?
The first thing that a person having a heart attack must do is acknowledge that it's happening, said Lisa Lucas, director of cardiac services for Mary Washington Hospital.

"They delay a lot," Lucas said. "It's hard for them to imagine that they're having a heart attack. When they realize that they need to go to the emergency room, it's hours and hours after they've had this pain."

This admission is even more critical for those at increased risk of heart attack, such as those who smoke or have diabetes, hypertension or a family history of heart disease.

So how do you recognize a heart attack? There are a couple of important indicators, Lucas said.

Pressure in the chest: With most heart attacks, there is an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest.

"It could be a heaviness, a pressure, radiating down one of their arms," Lucas said.

Discomfort in other areas: Symptoms also can include pain that moves to the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath that lasts for more than a few seconds is common, as are sweating, nausea and lightheadedness.

Women's symptoms: Women can have some of the same symptoms as men, such as shortness of breath, nausea and back or jaw pain. But their symptoms are likely to be different.

"A common symptom that differs from men is 'lingering tiredness'," said Diana R. Louder, coordinator for cardiovascular research and community programs at Mary Washington. Women usually don't get the crushing "elephant sitting on your chest" symptom, Louder said.

"Women's symptoms are usually a little more vague," Lucas said. "Sometimes they can't describe it."

What to do: Call 911. Patients who call an ambulance can get treatment up to an hour sooner, compared with those who go to the hospital by car.

"They think the rescue squad is just a ride to the hospital, and it's not," Lucas said. "The rescue squad is central to the care you receive on the way."

Up to one-fourth of heart-attack patients die before reaching the hospital.

"Sudden death is a high probability for those patients when they wait at home," Lucas said. "If they're driving themselves, there's no way to provide emergency care on the way."

While waiting for the ambulance, the patient should chew one regular aspirin tablet