• Chest discomfort. With most heart attacks, there's discomfort in the center of the chest. This can last more than a few minutes. Or it can go away and come back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, burning, fullness, tightness, or pain. It's often described as something heavy sitting on your chest.

• Discomfort in other parts of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in 1 or both arms, shoulders, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

• Shortness of breath. This may occur with or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, upset stomach (nausea), or feeling lightheaded.

Don’t be afraid to call 911, even if you’re not sure you're having a heart attack.  If you don’t know the cause of your symptoms, assume it’s a heart attack. Play it safe and call 911 right away. Don't drive yourself to the emergency room (ER).

If you think someone else is having a heart attack, call 911 right away instead of driving them to the ER. After you call 911, they'll tell you what to do. The 911 dispatcher may tell you to give the person aspirin while waiting for help to arrive. If the dispatcher doesn’t tell you to do this, don't give the person aspirin. Aspirin can be dangerous in certain cases.

People who've had one heart attack are at risk of having another. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine such as nitroglycerin to take for chest pain. You may also need medicine to lower your heart rate and blood pressure. This is to prevent angina and another heart attack. Remember to take any medicines your provider has given as directed. Don't stop these medicines without talking with them first.

For more information, visit these websites:

• American Heart Association at www.heart.org

• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at www.nhlbi.nih.gov 

• WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease at www.womenheart.org

See your healthcare provider for follow-up visits as directed. During these visits, your provider will ask you about your medicines and how well they are working. If needed, your provider may change your dosage or prescribe new medicines. You may have tests done again. These can include blood tests, ECGs, or exercise stress tests. If you have questions, keep a list. Ask them during these visits.

• Don’t push yourself. You may feel better. But listen to your body. Don’t push yourself too hard or too fast. If you go back to work, think about going part-time at first.

• Build in some stress breaks. Every few hours, stop what you’re doing. Do some deep breathing or visualization.

• Get enough sleep. This is even more important after a heart attack. Sleep helps your body heal.

• Stay alert for signs of another heart attack. Get help right away if you think you’re having another heart attack. The sooner you get treatment, the less damage will be done to your heart.

• Keep your new good habits. Be mindful of the good habits you've learned. Don't go back to your past unhealthy lifestyle.

• Friends, family, and coworkers may want to help. But they likely don’t know how. Be honest about your heart attack. And tell them practical ways they can help out.

• Tell friends, family, employers, and coworkers about limitations you have.

• Encourage friends and coworkers to share lunchtime walks and healthy snacks with you.

• Pick a few close friends to encourage you. This can be helpful if you have trouble with the changes you’re making.

• Keep using support groups or heart rehab programs. These give ongoing support and structure. This can help you keep your heart-healthy changes for good.

• Use your resources to help you stick to your new lifestyle. This will let you make changes that last.

Your loved one will have ups and downs. That’s normal. Help them focus on the positive. Sticking to lifestyle changes will help them feel better and be healthier. Think about making the same changes, too. That can help your loved one make and keep these new healthy habits. Always talk about your concerns with your loved one. Keep the conversation open.

Before you leave the hospital, make sure to know the answers to these questions:

• When should I schedule my first follow-up appointment? How often are these appointments needed?

• What medicines do I need and how do I take them? When do I need to come back to have these checked or readjusted, if necessary?

• What further tests do I need?

• What symptoms should I watch for? What are the signs and symptoms of a condition that needs immediate attention? Does this mean call my healthcare provider, or call 911?

• How soon can I start a cardiac rehab program?

• When can I return to work? When can I drive? Be active? Have sex?

• How can I get help managing payment for my medical care?

Cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) helps you recover after a heart attack. This program helps you learn how to make changes to improve your health and reduce your chances of having another heart attack. You might start an inpatient program while you’re in the hospital. If not, ask your healthcare provider about finding a program to join after you leave the hospital.

• Call 911 for emergency medical services. Getting care right away may keep the heart from stopping. It may help limit damage to the heart muscle to a minimum.

• When a heart attack is suspected, have the person chew 1 adult dose or 2 low-dose (baby) aspirin tablets. If you are not sure the chest pain is from a heart attack, this can be delayed until the emergency medical services arrive. If the person has been prescribed nitroglycerin, follow instructions from the provider for taking these tablets.

• Have the victim stop all activities.

• Reassure the victim. This will keep them calm, so the heart uses less oxygen.

• Loosen any clothing that may restrict breathing. This includes ties, collars, and belts.

• Start CPR right away if the person shows signs that they have stopped breathing. Or start it if they are becoming unresponsive, or their pulse has stopped.

• Do CPR by pushing down hard and fast in the center of the chest. Try to allow the chest to recoil or completely expand in between each compression. The goal is to push 100 to 120 times per minute. Emergency dispatchers on the telephone can give instructions on doing CPR.

• Don't worry about doing rescue breaths during CPR. But if you have the training or are able to do rescue breaths, the goal is to provide 2 breaths for every 30 compressions. Rescue breaths also have been called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

• Continue CPR until emergency professionals arrive. Or continue until the heart attack victim starts to move.

The warning signs of a heart attack can include any of these:

• Chest pain or constriction. This feels like pressure or a belt squeezing the chest.

• Heaviness in the chest area. This is as if a heavy weight is resting on the chest.

• Heaviness or pain going to the arms, shoulders, jaw, or teeth

• Shortness of breath

• Pale or gray skin tone and sweating. Also cool, damp skin.

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded with no other cause

• Feeling nauseated

• Symptoms don't go away after taking heart medicine or nitroglycerin

• Feeling heartburn or indigestion