Is it a heart attack? It's easy to mistake the early symptoms of a heart attack for indigestion or a pulled muscle. But early treatment significantly improves your chances of a full recovery, so be vigilant.

If you have any of these symptoms, improve your odds of making a full recovery—call 911 and ask to be taken to St. Francis right away.

• Chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back—it can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Note: Pain can be strong and intense, or mild and uncomfortable.
• Discomfort in the upper body, including the neck, either or both shoulders, back, the jaw or the stomach.
• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
• Nausea, lightheadedness or breaking out in a cold sweat.

Women's Symptoms

Fewer than 30 percent of women report having chest pain before a heart attack.

Symptoms may include new onset of:

• Unusual fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping
• Indigestion
• Anxiety
• Dizziness

Get help now-even if you're not sure. If you're experiencing symptoms, don't worry about raising a false alarm. Doctors and hospital staff will not be inconvenienced if it turns out to be a less serious problem.

After a heart attack begins, every minute that passes means more heart muscle damage. It is crucial for you  to call 911 if you think you are having heart attack symptoms.

Every hospital and urgent care clinic through St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers will begin the EHART® protocol as soon as you arrive. This can reduce the amount of time between the onset of a heart attack and when treatment begins, which has proven to save more lives. At St. Francis Heart Center, our heart attack team is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. In addition, every St. Francis hospital and urgent care clinic can begin the EHART® protocol while you are traveling to the main hospital.