Had a co-worker end up in the hospital this week. He was thinking he was suffering from anxiety from all the stress in his life. He would have periods of shortness of breath and pressure in his chest. When this would happen he would sit and relax for a few minutes and it would subside.

After convincing him to see a doc he went in. They admitted him to the hospital and determined he had a heart attack at some time and found an artery partially blocked. I truly believed that he was suffering from anxiety and was shocked. However the golden rule we live by in EMS is Cardiac until proven otherwise.

If he had waited too long there may have been considerable damage done to his heart. If you suffer from any of the following please take it serious.

Can't catch your breath.
Chest pain or pressure.
Pain from your chest moving into your jaw or arm.
Severe and sudden upper back pain like a knife between your shoulders.
Unexplained dizzy spells
Unexplained episode of passing out.

These are a partial list but do not wait to go to the ER and get checked out. Heart problems can kil quickly.

Doc