Symptoms
Cardiac arrest is often confused with a heart attack or myocardial infarction, which is a loss of blood to the heart tissue. Cardiac arrest usually occurs without warning. Warning signs of an impending cardiac arrest due to heart disease are:

• Squeezing discomfort or pain in the chest, or behind the breastbone, lasting more than 10 minutes
  
• Pain spreading up to the neck, out to the shoulders or arms
  
• Sweating
  
• Shortness of breath
  
• The person may feel sick in the stomach
  

Last updated: 01-Jan-00