Sister to Sister

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Men and women may differ in their experience of heart attack symptoms. For men, the most common sign of a heart attack is pain or pressure in the chest. Women are more likely than men to have unusual or "atypical" signs of a heart attack. Some of these symptoms may come and go.

Symptoms that every woman should know and pay attention to include:

• Discomfort or pressure in the chest
• Pain in one or both arms, upper back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Nausea or vomiting
• Trouble breathing
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Inability to sleep
• Unusual fatigue
• Paleness or clammy skin

Every minute counts!

Call 911 when you begin to have any of these symptoms. Do not wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Don't worry about symptoms being a "false alarm." Don't be concerned about bothering others. When you get to the hospital, ask for tests that would diagnose a heart attack. Treatment of heart attacks is most effective when administered as quickly as possible.