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You may be having a heart attack if you feel any of these symptoms:
chest discomfort or pain that lasts longer than five minutes and is not relieved by rest
or nitroglycerin and feels like:
· pressure · tightness · squeezing · crushing · intense burning · aching
In addition, you may also have:
chest discomfort or pain that radiates (travels) to your:
· back · shoulder · neck · jaw/teeth · arm · wrist
shortness of breath
dizziness
fainting
nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
vomiting (throwing up)
rapid and/or irregular heartbeat
sense of impending (coming) doom
The more symptoms you are experiencing, the more likely you are having a heart attack. There may be other explanations for your chest pain, but it is important to get medical help.
Your symptoms may come on slowly. They may be vague or intermittent (start and stop).
If you have angina, your heart attack symptoms may feel like your angina, but your heart attack symptoms may be stronger or last longer.
If you have had a heart attack before, it may feel the same or different.
1. Stop what you are doing.
2. Sit or lie down.
3. If your doctor has prescribed nitroglycerin for you, place one nitroglycerin tablet under your tongue. Let it dissolve. Do not chew or swallow the pill. If your symptoms are not relieved in 3 to 5 minutes by nitroglycerin and rest, call 911 emergency services before you call anyone else. While you wait for the ambulance, you can continue to put one nitroglycerin tablet under your tongue every 5 minutes until your symptoms are relieved or until the ambulance arrives. If you do not have your nitroglycerin with you, call 911 emergency services before you call anyone else.
4. If your doctor has not prescribed nitroglycerin for you, call 911 emergency services before you call anyone else.
5. Do not drive yourself.
6. If you are not already taking daily aspirin, chew one adult-strength (325 mg), uncoated aspirin tablet if you have it and if you are not allergic to aspirin.
Find out how to assess your risk for heart disease.
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