Coronary Heart Disease : When to Seek Medical Care

Call your health care provider if you notice any of the following symptoms, which suggest angina:

• Chest pain, pressure or feeling of indigestion after physical exertion, which may or may not be relieved by rest
  
  
• Shoulder or arm pain involving left, right, or both sides during physical or mentally stressful activity
  
  
• Jaw pain, unexplained by another cause, like a sore tooth
  
  
• Shortness of breath after exertion or walking uphill
  
  
• Fainting spell
  
  
• Pain in the upper part of your abdomen
  
  
• Unexplained nausea, vomiting, or sweating
  
  
• Palpitations or dizziness

Call 911 or have someone take you immediately to a hospital emergency department if you have signs of a heart attack.

• The most crucial factor is time. Each year, thousands of Americans die because they do not seek medical attention quickly.
  
  
• Err on the side of caution and go to the hospital.
  
  
• This may prove to be the difference between life and death.

The most common symptoms of heart attack include the following:

• Unremitting or prolonged chest pain, chest pressure, or a feeling like heartburn
  
  
• Shoulder or arm pains (left or right) or upper abdominal pain that won't go away
  
  
• Shortness of breath after minimal activity or while resting
  
  
• Blackout spells
  
  
• Unexplained profuse sweating with or without nausea or vomiting
  
  
• Frequent chest pain or discomfort at rest