A sudden heart attack is one of the most frightening experiences you and your family can have. Getting good care quickly is critical to your recovery. That's why Sutter Solano Medical Center's emergency rooms are staffed with highly skilled doctors and the most sophisticated equipment available to diagnose and treat people suffering from heart attacks. Emergency teams at Sutter Solano can help minimize damage to the heart and get you or your loved one well again as fast as possible.

Knowing the symptoms and calling 911 immediately can mean the difference between life and death for someone experiencing a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

A heart attack occurs when a blockage in an artery stops blood flow to the heart. Call 911 if you or a loved one has these symptoms:

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, heaviness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
• Nausea or lightheadedness

Cardiac Arrest Symptoms

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops functioning for any reason. Cardiac arrest symptoms include:

• Sudden loss of consciousness; lack of movement
• No normal breathing for several seconds
• No pulse or signs of circulation

Emergency teams at Sutter Solano use several tools to find the cause and assess the extent of the damage caused by a heart attack, including:

• Electrocardiogram or EKG — A test that measures electrical activity in the heart.
• Blood tests — Certain blood tests can determine whether somebody did, in fact, have a heart attack and measure its severity.
• Echocardiogram — An imaging test done to visualize how the heart is pumping and to assess any damage done by the heart attack.

After the immediate threat is treated, your doctor will talk to you and your family members about what can be done to improve your heart health and minimize the risk of another heart attack.