Guide
Heart Attack and Stroke Warning Signs: What to Look For and When to Call 911
Call 911 for chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes, trouble breathing, cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness, and for any stroke sign: balance loss, eye changes, face droop, arm weakness or speech trouble. Do not drive yourself and do not wait for a supplement or a cuff reading to decide. Time matters.
Written by the Melonex label deskUpdated
When should you call 911?
If you or someone near you has the signs below, call 911 now. Do not wait to see if they pass.
- Chest discomfortPressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest, lasting more than a few minutes or coming and going.
- Discomfort elsewhereArms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Other signsShortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
- Stroke: B.E. F.A.S.T.Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time: any sign means call 911 and note when it started.
- Call 911, do not driveAny of these: call 911 right away. Do not drive yourself or the person to the hospital.
Signs from AHA 1 and CDC 2. This list is not complete, and a supplement is never a reason to wait.
These lists are from CDC and the AHA 12. They are not complete, and a person may have only one or two signs. If you are unsure, call. Emergency staff would rather check than miss.
What are the signs of a heart attack?
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest: pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes.
| Sign | What it can feel like |
|---|---|
| Chest discomfort | Pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center |
| Upper body | Discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach |
| Breathing | Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort |
| Other | Cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness |
Women may be more likely to have breathlessness, nausea or back or jaw pain 1. Do not ignore a vague feeling that something is wrong.
What are the signs of a stroke?
Use BE FAST: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time.
- Balance: sudden loss of balance or dizziness.
- Eyes: sudden vision change in one or both eyes.
- Face: one side of the face droops or feels numb.
- Arms: one arm is weak or drifts down when both are raised.
- Speech: slurred, strange or lost words.
- Time: call 911 right away if you see any of these 2.
Note the time the signs began. Doctors use it to decide on treatment. Do not give food or drink, and do not drive yourself.
What should you do first?
Call 911, open the door, sit or lie down, and stay on the line.
Call 911
Say you think it is a heart attack or stroke and give your location.
Stop what you are doing
Sit or lie with your head and chest supported.
Follow the call taker
They may tell you to chew aspirin for a suspected heart attack, if you are not allergic and the call taker says so. Do not take it unless told.
Open the door and gather medicines
Have your medicine list and any supplement bottles ready for the crew.
Where do supplements fit?
They do not. A capsule is not a response to chest pain or stroke signs.
The Melonex label says Heart Support* and Circulation Support*, and the star means the claims are not evaluated by FDA and the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease 3. If you have symptoms, the right step is 911. Tell the crew about any supplement you take, including arginine and citrulline, since these can affect blood pressure.
What raises the risk?
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, inactivity and family history are the main risk factors.
CDC lists high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and smoking as key factors 4. AHA's Life's Essential 8 covers diet, activity, tobacco, sleep, weight, cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure 5. The blood pressure basics page explains the numbers.
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See packsDo signs differ by person?
Yes. Some people have classic chest pressure. Others have only breathlessness, nausea, back or jaw pain, or unusual tiredness.
Women, older adults and people with diabetes are more likely to have signs that do not look like the film version of a heart attack. A person may think it is indigestion, a pulled muscle or anxiety, and wait. Waiting costs heart muscle. The CDC and AHA advise calling 911 if you have the signs, even if you are not sure 1. If someone with you looks grey, sweaty or confused, treat it as an emergency, even if they say they are fine.
Signs can also come and go. A feeling that eases and returns within minutes still counts. Do not wait for it to get worse before you call. If you have had a stent, a bypass or a previous heart attack, you will likely have been told which signs to watch for. Follow that advice and the plan your clinician gave you.
What happens after you call?
Crews begin care on arrival, and the hospital team is told you are coming, which saves time.
In the ambulance, staff may check your heart rhythm, give oxygen if needed and start medicines. At the hospital, tests such as an ECG and blood tests show whether it is a heart attack or a stroke. Treatment is time-sensitive in both: the sooner blood flow is restored, the less tissue is lost. That is why the BE FAST rule ends with Time 2. Bring or send your list of medicines and supplements. Tell the team if you recently started a new one, including arginine or citrulline.
What about a very high reading?
A reading over 180/120 with chest pain, trouble breathing, vision change, weakness or confusion is an emergency. Call 911.
If the reading is that high and you feel fine, rest for five minutes and measure again with the cuff placed correctly 67. If it is still that high, call your clinician at once. Do not take extra medicine unless your clinician has told you to. The home reading page explains the steps for a good reading.
How can you prepare ahead?
Keep a card with your medicines, allergies, conditions and emergency contact in your wallet and on your phone.
Make sure the people you live with know the signs and know where the card is. Learn BE FAST and teach it to family. Keep your address by the phone, and know the quickest way for a crew to reach you, such as the entrance code. Keep a charged phone nearby. If you take nitroglycerin, keep it in the original bottle. Practice makes the first minutes calmer, and the first minutes count most. And if you are with someone who has signs, stay with them, keep them calm and be ready to tell the crew what you saw and when it began.
Finally, check your numbers. Knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar tells you where you stand 5. See the basics page for the ranges, and speak to your clinician if any of them is out of range.
FAQ01
Melonex questions people ask
What are the signs of a heart attack?
Chest discomfort in the center, pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
What does BE FAST stand for?
Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time.
Should I drive myself to hospital?
No. Call 911.
Can a supplement help during a heart attack?
No. Call 911 and tell the crew what you take.
Do women have different signs?
They may be more likely to have breathlessness, nausea or back or jaw pain.
What if the signs go away?
Call anyway. Stroke signs that pass can still be a warning.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a USA Authorized Melonex Retailer. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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