Heart and vascular care at:

Heart Attack Warning Signs & Symptoms

If you think you may be experiencing a heart attack, it is important to call 9-1-1 right away so that treatment can start as soon as possible. Do not drive yourself or wait for a ride from a friend or family member. Have an ambulance take you to the hospital that is a cardiac receiving center right away.

Heart attack symptoms may include:

Chest discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath: May occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you or someone you're with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, call 9-1-1 right away.

Designated Cardiac Receiving Centers

Long Beach Memorial and Saddleback Memorial emergency departments are one of only a few designated cardiac receiving centers in Los Angeles and Orange County with emergency treatment times that beat the national average. Los Angeles and Orange County residents with chest pain who call 9-1-1 will automatically be directed to a ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) center. Our ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) centers provide cardiac expertise 24-hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.