Heart Attack Warning Signs
Seek help immediately if you are experiencing any of these heart attack symptoms:
- Chest pain
- May start as mild discomfort and progress to more intense pain
- May come and go
- May feel like a weight on the chest or a squeezing sensation
- Discomfort in other parts of the upper body
- Pain in the arms, back, jaw, neck, or stomach
- Shortness of breath
- A sensation of difficulty breathing
- Rapid or shallow breathing
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lightheadedness
- Anxiety
Women’s heart attack symptoms
Although symptoms of chest pain and discomfort occur in both men and women, women are somewhat more likely to experience:
• Shortness of breath
• Back or jaw pain
• Nausea or vomiting
It’s important to recognize these symptoms and not delay emergency treatment.
High heart attack survival rates
Our commitment to comprehensive, high-quality care is evident throughout Cape Cod Healthcare, including cardiovascular quality you can measure:
- We are recognized by the American College of Cardiology, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other agencies for excellence in lifesaving cardiac care.
- We have some of the fastest “door-to-balloon times” in the state and the nation, meaning if you arrive in one of our emergency rooms, you could be receiving treatment in our catherization lab as soon as 12 minutes. This translates to higher survival rates and less damage following a heart attack.
- Cape Cod Hospital is one of just 17 hospitals in the country with 30-day heart attack mortality rates that are better than the national average.
Continuing care
The renowned cardiac specialists Cape Cod Healthcare’s Heart and Vascular Institute provide comprehensive care for heart conditions, from screening and diagnosis through treatment and recovery.
Learn more about heart attack at the National Institute of Health, including ways to reduce your risks.
