Heart attack warning signs and when to call for help

Heart attack symptoms differ from person to person, between men and women, and from one heart attack to the next. They can start slowly, come and go over hours, be mild, or be absent altogether (a silent heart attack). Chest pain, heaviness or discomfort is the most common; others include pain in an arm, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw or upper abdomen, breathlessness, heavy sweating for no reason, unusual tiredness, nausea or vomiting, light-headedness and a fast or uneven heartbeat. Two US government health pages both say to call 9-1-1 (911) when a heart attack might be happening, whether or not the person is certain. One adds that an ambulance is the safest way to reach hospital and that people should not drive themselves or ride with someone else, because ambulance crews can begin tests and treatment on the way.

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