Heart attack
Anyone can have a heart attack – but it is much more likely if you already have angina or other heart problems.
Getting immediate treatment for a heart attack can reduce the damage to your heart and may even save your life.
Symptoms of a heart attack:
- Pain – which may feel like pressure, squeezing or a burning sensation across the front of your chest. It may spread to your neck, shoulder, jaw, back, upper abdomen or either arm. It may last more than a few minutes.
- Palpitations (when your heartbeat is unusually strong, fast or uneven).
- Fainting, dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting or shortness of breath.
Call 111 immediately.
Note: It’s important to know that not everyone having a heart attack gets chest pain.
- They may have only neck, jaw, ear, arm or upper abdominal discomfort.
- Some people complain only of shortness of breath, severe weakness, light-headedness, sweating, or nausea and vomiting.
- Older people may just seem to be more confused and not complain of pain at all.
Page last updated: 01 February 2012
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