Heart attacks often share some symptoms with indigestion and fatigue, therefore it is not always clear when a person is suffering a heart attack. While indigestion is usually restricted to the stomach and abdomen, the warning signs of a heart attack are less localized and more varied. If you think you are experiencing an attack, call 911 immediately or get to a hospital.

Classic symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Squeezing chest pain or pressure
• Sweating
• Nausea and vomitting
• Pain, squeezing, tightness or pressure in the chest

If you think you are suffering a heart attack, waste no time calling 911 and getting to the nearest emergency department.

Nothing is more important to remember during a heart attack than this:

Every second counts.

Statistics have proven that those who report to the emergency room immediately upon experiencing symptoms have much higher survival rates than those who decide to "wait to see." While it's only human nature to wait, a person who denies that he may be having a heart attack puts himself at greater risk for serious damage to his heart, or even death. Once a patient has arrived at a hospital, speedy treatment is critical. A recent report from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction revealed that Roper Hospital's Time-To-Treatment is more than twice as fast as most hospitals in South Carolina and in the nation. The report also noted that the heart attack mortality rate at Roper is among the lowest of any hospital in the state and lower than the national average.

For more information, go to Roper Heart Center.