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Knowing the warning signs of a heart attack can mean the difference between life or death. They include:
- Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest that last more than a few minutes, or comes and goes.
- Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, or arms.
- Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath.

- You don't have to have everything on the list to be having a heart attack. If some of these warning signs occur, call 911 and get to a hospital immediately.
- If you're with someone experiencing the signs of a heart attack--and the symptoms last for more than a few minutes--get help immediately.
- It's normal for someone with chest discomfort to deny the possibility of having something as serious as a heart attack. Don't take no for an answer. Insist on calling 911 or get the person to the nearest emergency room.
Source: Heart and Stroke Facts, American Heart Association
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Reprinted from The Harvard Health Letter. Copyright ©
1996 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. For
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Palm Coast, Florida 32142-0300, or contact pbibbins@warren.med.harvard.edu.
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