Recognizing These Heart Attack Symptoms Could Save Your Life.

Act Quickly
Fast action is your best weapon against a heart attack. Why? Because clot-busting drugs and other artery-opening treatments can stop a heart attack in its tracks. They can prevent or limit damage to the heart–but they need to be given immediately after symptoms begin. The sooner they are started, the more good they will do–and the greater the chances are for survival and a full recovery. To be most effective, they need to be given ideally within 1 hour of the start of heart attack symptoms.

If you're having heart attack symptoms call 911 and tell the operator you think you may be having a heart attack. Don't call your doctor's office and wait for a call back or just "tough it out". The risk is too great and life is short enough as it is.

Chew an adult aspirin or crush and drink it dissolved in water for faster absorption. Aspirin may help restore some blood flow through clogged arteries. Lie down. It's almost always best to wait for the ambulance rather than having someone drive you to the hospital (don't drive yourself).

As I often say, "Having a heart attack isn't as much fun as you might think."  The good news is that you can avoid the traumatic and life changing event of having a heart attack.

I'm Gene Millen. In 1990, at age 59, a heart surgeon, sawed open my chest and stitched in bypasses to six of my favorite heart arteries.

It wasn't as much fun as you might think...and propelled me into a new career, with the mission of helping others avoid my mistakes...and to learn how keep a heart attack and stroke at bay. 

Now at age 77 my heart and brain are working just fine (contrary to what some my friends opine.)

Since my "brush with death", during the last fifteen years, I have worked with hundreds of people as owner of the Vital Life Health and Wellness Center and most recently as Fitness Director of a retirement community in the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley of California.