Warning signs of a heart attack

Each year, thousands of Canadians die from heart attacks because they do not receive appropriate medical treatment quickly enough. Learn to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack in order to react quickly to save lives.

	• pain or chest discomfort (pressure or discomfort, tightness, sharp pain, burning or heaviness in the chest)
	• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body (neck, jaw, shoulder, arm or back)
	• Shortness of breath
	• Sweating
	• Nausea
	• Dizziness

If you experience any of these signals, you should:

• CALL on your local emergency number immediately, or ask someone to do it for you. Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone at all times; 
• stop all activity and sit or lie in the position in which you are most comfortable;
• usually if you take nitroglycerin, take a normal dose;
• If you experience chest pain, chew and swallow one adult 325 mg ASA (acetylsalicylic acid commonly known as Aspirin) or two tablets of 80 mg. Analgesics such as acetaminophen (eg., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (eg., Advil ®) do not act the same way as ASA (eg., Aspirin) and therefore you will not be of any help in the emergency situation described above;
• to rest comfortably and await the arrival of emergency medical services (ambulance).