Recognizing Signs Of A Heart Attack

1. You're just not feeling "yourself" today. Which one of the following "sensations" should send you rushing directly to the emergency room?

A sudden, strange desire to fill out insurance forms.

An uncomfortable, squeezing pain in the middle of your chest.

A long-tone ringing in either of your ears.

A tickling sensation on the bottom of your feet.

An uncomfortable squeezing pain in the middle of your chest. Most heart attacks start slowly, usually with a slight discomfort, squeezing pain or fullness in the center of your chest. The pressure can last for minutes and usually comes and goes. If any of these symptoms comes, cal 911 or your emergency response number. Filling out insurance forms should be the least of your worries!

Explanation

An uncomfortable squeezing pain in the middle of your chest. Most heart attacks start slowly, usually with a slight discomfort, squeezing pain or fullness in the center of your chest. The pressure can last for minutes and usually comes and goes. If any of these symptoms comes, cal 911 or your emergency response number. Filling out insurance forms should be the least of your worries!

2. Which of these is NOT considered a heart attack warning sign?

Cold sweats

Nausea

Ice cream cravings

Lightheadedness

The other three symptoms are all heart attack signs, especially for women, who are also prone to experience shortness of breath, as well as back or jaw pain.

Explanation

The other three symptoms are all heart attack signs, especially for women, who are also prone to experience shortness of breath, as well as back or jaw pain.

3. If you are experiencing any of the common signs of a heart attack, what is the fastest way to being lifesaving treatment?

Call 9-1-1 immediately.

Get someone to drive you to the emergency room. Now!

Drive yourself to the emergency room. Now!

Call 911 immediately. This is almost always the fastest way to get treatment. The emergency medical technicians are equipped and trained to begin treatment on arrival. If you drive yourself and have complications along the way, you’ll be in big trouble. And, if you have someone else drive you, you will not benefit from early assessment by the EMS providers and will delay the start in treatment.

Explanation

Call 911 immediately. This is almost always the fastest way to get treatment. The emergency medical technicians are equipped and trained to begin treatment on arrival. If you drive yourself and have complications along the way, you’ll be in big trouble. And, if you have someone else drive you, you will not benefit from early assessment by the EMS providers and will delay the start in treatment.

4. Just because you feel a heart attack warning sign doesn't mean you are actually having a heart attack. People fee these quirky sensations all the time. Save yourself some trouble. Wait until you have a few of the signs in more rapid succession.

Good advice

Bad advice

People ignore heart attack warning signs at their own risk. There are cemeteries full of people who felt one but did nothing. The moment you feel a heart attack warning sign, call 911 or your emergency response number. EMS staff can provide initial treatment much faster than if you drive to an emergency room yourself. Every minute counts during a heart attack – time is muscle.

Explanation

People ignore heart attack warning signs at their own risk. There are cemeteries full of people who felt one but did nothing. The moment you feel a heart attack warning sign, call 911 or your emergency response number. EMS staff can provide initial treatment much faster than if you drive to an emergency room yourself. Every minute counts during a heart attack – time is muscle.

5. There's a reason its called a "heart" attack. The warning signs all center on your "heart." The idea that symptoms may occur in other parts of the upper body, such as the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach, is pure myth.

True

False

It’s called a “heart” attack, but the symptoms can affect other parts of the body, namely the arms, back, neck, jaw and stomach. If you feel unexplained discomfort in the center of the chest that feels like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, or pain or discomfort in any of these areas of your upper body, you may be having a heart attack. Call 911.

Explanation

It’s called a “heart” attack, but the symptoms can affect other parts of the body, namely the arms, back, neck, jaw and stomach. If you feel unexplained discomfort in the center of the chest that feels like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, or pain or discomfort in any of these areas of your upper body, you may be having a heart attack. Call 911.

6. Shortness of breath is a warning sign for a heart attack when:

You experience a particularly beautiful wonder of nature, such as the Grand Canyon.

You walk through the “smokers” patio on y our way into an office building from the parking lot.

You are also feeling some discomfort or pain in your chest.

You aren’t feeling anything strange in your chest, just shortness of breath.

Both C and D.

Any shortness of breath can signal an oncoming heart attack. No offense to the Grand Canyon, but if you’re suddenly struggling to breath, you’re better safe than sorry. Call 911 right away.

Explanation

Any shortness of breath can signal an oncoming heart attack. No offense to the Grand Canyon, but if you’re suddenly struggling to breath, you’re better safe than sorry. Call 911 right away.