If you have any of the symptoms of a heart attack - or even if you just think you may be having a heart attack - the experts advise you to call 911 and get to the ER as fast as possible. Depending on the severity of your attack, ER personnel will want answers to these questions:

• When/what time did your discomfort begin?
• What were you doing when it began?
• Was it at its most intense level immediately, or did it gradually build up to a peak?
• Did you have any additional symptoms besides the discomfort, such as nausea, sweating, light-headedness, or palpitations?
• On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst, what number would you use to describe your discomfort now?

Your answers will help the doctors learn about your condition and decide how best to proceed.

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