Lifespan's A - Z Health Information Library

A heart attack is a medical emergency.

The average person waits 3 hours before seeking help for symptoms of a heart attack. Many heart attack victims die before they reach a hospital. The sooner someone gets to the emergency room, the better the chance of survival. Prompt medical treatment also reduces the amount of damage done to the heart following an attack.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America today.

A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that carries oxygen to the heart is blocked. The heart muscle becomes starved for oxygen and begins to die. See heart attack for more specific causes.

Heart attacks can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild to intense. Women, the elderly, and persons with diabetes are more likely to have subtle or atypical symptoms.

Symptoms in adults may include:

• Chest pain 
  • Usually in the center of chest
  • Lasts for a more than a few minutes or comes and goes
  • May feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness
  • Pain may be felt in other areas of the upper body, such as the jaw, shoulder, one or both arms, back, and stomach area
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat
• Nausea
• Lightheadedness

Women are more likely than men to have symptoms of nausea, vomiting, back or jaw pain, and shortness of breath with chest pain.

Babies and children may appear limp and unresponsive and may have bluish-colored skin.

1. Have the person sit down, rest, and try to keep calm.
2. Loosen any tight clothing.
3. Ask if the person takes any chest pain medication for a known heart condition.
4. Help the person take the medication (usually nitroglycerin, which is placed under the tongue).
5. If the pain does not go away promptly with rest or within 3 minutes of taking nitroglycerin, call for emergency medical help.
6. If the person is unconscious and unresponsive, call 911 (or your local emergency number), then begin CPR.
7. If an infant or child is unconscious and unresponsive, perform 1 minute of CPR, then call 911.

• DO NOT leave the person alone except to call for help, if necessary.
• DO NOT allow the person to deny the symptoms and convince you not to call for emergency help.
• DO NOT wait to see if the symptoms go away.
• DO NOT give the person anything by mouth unless a heart medication (such as nitroglycerin) has been prescribed.

• If sudden chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack occur.
• If an adult or child is unresponsive or is not breathing.

Adults should take steps to control heart disease risk factors whenever possible. If you smoke, quit. Smoking more than doubles the chance of developing heart disease. Keep blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes in good control and follow with your doctor's orders.

Lose weight if obese or overweight. Get regular exercise to improve heart health. (Talk to your doctor before starting any new fitness program.)

Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. One drink a day is associated with reducing the rate of heart attacks, but two or more drinks a day can damage the heart and cause other medical problems.