Mayo Clinic Health System
  • Patient Online Services
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Adams
      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Janesville
      • Kenyon
      • Lake City
      • Le Sueur
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • New Richland
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah
      • Lake Mills

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    • COVID-19
    • Request an Appointment
    • Patient Online Services
    • Pay Bills Online
    • Refer a Patient

    Recent Posts

    • Teenager wearing blue hoodie
      Speaking of Health
      Why it's important to support kids who identify as LGBTQ and may be struggling
      June 24, 2022
    • Person with glasses and nose ring
      Speaking of Health
      LGBTQ+ health: Easing fears of seeking care
      June 23, 2022
    • Toddler with curly hair wearing white shirt
      Featured Topic
      COVID-19 vaccines for infants, toddlers
      June 22, 2022
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Wednesday, April 16, 2014

    Are you having heart attack symptoms? Help your heart by calling 911

    At some time in your life, you may become concerned about your heart. You may wonder if certain symptoms are related to indigestion or stress or whether it’s actually a heart attack.

    A heart attack may cause chest pain that lasts 15 minutes or longer. But a heart attack also may be silent and produce no signs or symptoms. If you were having heart attack symptoms, you may experience:

    • Uncomfortable pressure, fullness or squeezing pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes
    • Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms
    • Lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath

    It is critical that you call 911 in these situations. Emergency responders can help at the scene of a possible health incident and start treating you immediately, when you are most likely to respond positively to medical care. Responders also can relay important information to the hospital so doctors there know your needs before you even come in.

    It’s true that many who experience a heart attack have warning symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance. The earliest warning sign of an attack may be ongoing episodes of chest pain that start when you're physically active but are relieved by rest.

    Please remember, if you or someone else may be having a heart attack, it is important to call 911 or emergency medical assistance. Don't “tough out” the symptoms of a heart attack for more than five minutes. Drive yourself to medical care only as a last resort and if there are absolutely no other options. Driving yourself puts you and others at risk if your condition suddenly worsens.

    Time is of the essence when it comes to saving heart muscle.


    For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
    Topics in this Post
    • Heart Health
    • Women's Health
    • Men's Health

    Related Posts

    heart What's that sound? A heart murmur can be innocent or serious
    Heart_Image A clear picture of your heart is worth a thousand words
    Eat healthy at holiday parties

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Community Resources
    • Mayo Clinic Connect
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Home
    © 2018 - 2022 Mayo Clinic Health System