Chest pain — is it a heart attack, and what should I do?

The Singapore Heart Foundation lists these heart attack warning signs: chest pain or discomfort that feels like heaviness, fullness, pressure, squeezing or tightness; pain spreading to the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw or back; shortness of breath, with or without pain; cold sweat and nausea. Women may only feel unusual pain in the arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw, or unusual tiredness — signs that are easy to brush off.

A heart attack is not the same as a cardiac arrest. In a heart attack, an artery supplying the heart is blocked; the person is usually still awake and breathing. In a cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops — the person collapses, does not respond and is not breathing normally. A severe heart attack can trigger a cardiac arrest.

For a heart attack: call 995 right away, even if you are not sure — paramedics can start treatment as soon as they arrive. Do not drive yourself to hospital. Do not take aspirin on your own; people with a known history of heart disease can take it if the 995 operator advises them to.

CPR and an AED are only for someone in cardiac arrest. If the person stops responding and is not breathing normally, follow "Someone suddenly collapses and doesn't respond — what do I do?".

29 September is World Heart Day. This is a reminder of the key points, not a substitute for a proper course.