Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction or MI)

Symptoms can include:

• Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest, arm or below the breastbone
• Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat or arm
• Fullness, indigestion or choking feeling (may feel like heartburn)
• Sweating, nausea, vomiting or dizziness
• Extreme weakness, anxiety or shortness of breath
• Rapid or irregular heartbeats

During a heart attack, symptoms last 30 minutes or longer and are not relieved by rest or oral medications (medications taken by mouth). Initial symptoms can start as a mild discomfort that progresses to significant pain.

Some people have a heart attack without having any symptoms (a "silent" MI). A silent MI can occur among all people, though it occurs more often among diabetics.

If you think you are having a heart attack, DO NOT DELAY. Call for emergency help. Quick treatment of a heart attack is very important to lessen the amount of damage to your heart.