Most of us are aware that heart attack symptoms include pain or pressure in the chest, pain radiating to the shoulder or down the arm, and collapse. But many of us don't know that profuse sweating, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and shortness of breath may also mean a heart attack is under way.

Because getting help fast is so important in a heart attack, you should be aware of ALL the possible symptoms. A study in the journal Heart reported the frequency of symptoms experienced by people who had had a heart attack. The numbers may surprise you (see Table).

Symptom	%
Fever	78%
Radiating arm and shoulder pain	66%
Chest pain	64%
Nausea/vomiting	52%
Shortness of breath	47%
Dizziness	46%
Collapse	16%

Doctors urge people who have traditional heart attack symptoms and also those who experience profuse sweating, vomiting, or extreme shortness of breath to chew on an aspirin and get to the hospital immediately.

Source:  Heart attack: expect the unexpected. Heart Watch, June 2000.