Medically Reviewed by Nathan J.S. Almeida, MD

From a presentation by Nathan Almeida, MD, FACC, FACP McLeod Cardiology Associates

If you think you’re having a heart attack, STOP READING and CALL 911.

However, if you have heart problems or know someone who does, learn the signs and know what to do.

Here is a list of heart attack signs and symptoms:

• Chest pressure or a squeezing sensation that can spread to the shoulder, neck, jaw and arms.
• Shortness of breath
• Light headedness
• Pale color, sweating
• Nausea, vomiting

“There are steps you can take after calling 911, but before help medical help arrives,” says McLeod Cardiologist Nathan Almeida, M.D.:

Here’s a summary of Dr. Almeida’s comments:

Take aspirin immediately – either one regular aspirin or 4 baby aspirins. Put then in your mouth and chew them. In 3 to 5 minutes the aspirin – a blood thinning agent – will be absorbed into the blood steam. If you swallow the aspiring – especially the coated ones – they will not get into the blood stream as fast as if you chew.

For people who may have nitroglycerin tablets, take 1 nitroglycerin tablet to see if this makes the pain go away. If the pain goes way after only one nitro tablet, you don’t need to go to the Emergency Room.

However, if you have to take a second nitro pill to make the pain go away, allow the EMS crew to take you to the ER.

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Heart Health Dangers Are Higher for African-Americans

Find a Cardiologist near you.