Heart attack warning signals and cardiac arrest warning signs

Heart attack warning signals
Heart attacks and women
Heart attack myths
Cardiac arrest warning signs 

Heart attack warning signals

Thousands of Canadians die from heart attacks every year because they don't receive medical treatment quickly enough. Learn to recognize the signals of a heart attack so you can react quickly to save a life.

Pain
  • Sudden discomfort or pain that does not go away with rest
  • Pain that may be in the chest, neck, jaw, shoulder, arms or back
  • Pain that may feel like burning, squeezing, heaviness, tightness or pressure
  • In women, pain may be more vague
  • Chest pain or discomfort that is brought on with exertion and goes away with rest
Shortness of breath
  • Difficulty breathing
Nausea
  • Indigestion
  • Vomiting
Sweating
  • Cool, clammy skin
Fear
  • Anxiety
  • Denial

If you are experiencing any of these signals, you should:

  • CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately, or have someone call for you. Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone at all times.
  • Stop all activity and sit or lie down, in whatever position is most comfortable.
  • If you take nitroglycerin, take your normal dosage.
  • If you are experiencing chest pain, chew and swallow one adult 325 mg tablet or two 80 mg tablets of ASA(acetylsalicylic acid, commonly referred to as Aspirin®). Pain medicines such as acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (commonly known as Advil®) do not work the same way as ASA (Aspirin) and therefore will not help in the emergency situation described above.
  • Rest comfortably and wait for an ambulance with emergency medical personnel to arrive.

QUICK ACTION SAVES LIVES

Learn more about heart attack. 
Learn more about the anatomy of the heart.

For more information on heart attack warning signals, please read our Emergency Wallet Card and Emergency Signs, Signals and Actions – For Life brochure.

Heart attacks and women

Are the warning signals of heart attack the same for women?

In the past, it was believed that women and men had different warning signals of heart attack. This may not be the case. Both women and men may experience typical or non-typical symptoms such as nausea, sweating, pain in the arm, throat, jaw or pain that is unusual. However, women may describe their pain differently than men. Nevertheless, the most common symptom in women is still chest pain.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. Women tend to be safeguarded from heart disease prior to menopause because of the protective effect of estrogen.  However, this is not always the case. For example, pre-menopausal women with diabetes have similar risk to men of the same age because diabetes cancels out the protective effect of estrogen.

Heart attack myths

Disregard chain e-mail entitled "How to Survive a Heart Attack when Alone" (Cough CPR)

The Heart and Stroke Foundation continues to advise Canadians against circulating an e-mail often entitled "How to Survive a Heart Attack when Alone."

The e-mail advises readers to send a copy to everyone they know, and recommends that people who think they are having a heart attack should cough long, deeply and frequently. The e-mail claims that coughing will improve blood circulation to the heart, keeping you alive until emergency services arrive.

What you should do
If you are alone and think you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately for help. It's a good idea to keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone at all times.

Signs of cardiac arrest

A person may be experiencing cardiac arrest when he or she is:

  • Suddenly not responsive, especially when called or tapped on the shoulder.
  • Not breathing when you tilt the head back and check for at least five seconds.

Actions

If there are bystanders nearby, follow these steps:

  1. Tell someone to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.
  2. Tell someone to get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if one is available and use it as soon as it arrives.
  3. Begin CPR if you know it.

 If you are alone with an adult experiencing a cardiac arrest, follow these steps:

  1. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.
  2. Get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if one is available, and use it as soon as you have it in hand.
  3. If no AED is available, begin CPR if you know it.

Learn more about cardiac arrest.

Learn about the warning signs of stroke.

Last reviewed August 2009.