Hands-Only CPRTwo Steps to Save a Life

  1. Call 911 right away.
     
  2. Repeatedly, push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives. (Hands-only CPR)

A heart attack can strike at any time; knowing the symptoms and seeking the help you need is critical to surviving. Not all of the symptoms of a heart attack may occur. In fact, many heart attacks start slowly. A person experiencing a heart attack may be unsure or doubt that it is really happening.

Heart Attack Symptoms

The majority of damage that can occur as a result of a heart attack strikes within the first two hours, so understanding the symptoms and calling 911 right away are important. Here is a list of possible symptoms.

  • Anxiety
  • Arm pain that travels down one or both arms
  • Back pain
  • Chest pressure, squeezing or discomfort
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling of fullness in your stomach
  • Jaw pain
  • Nausea
  • Shortness of breath

Heart Attacks Symptoms in Women

It’s important to note that heart attack symptoms vary among individuals and can affect each person differently. For example, women may experience a heart attack without having any chest pain. Women may instead experience the following symptoms, which are associated with a heart attack:

  • Anxiety
  • Indigestion
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Unusual fatigue

Act Fast in an Emergency

If you think you or a loved one is having a heart attack call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not drive yourself. Ambulances are specially equipped to provide treatment for a heart attack.

Froedtert Hospital attained Primary Heart Attack Center certification by The Joint Commission. Froedtert West Bend Hospital and Froedtert Menomonee Falls have attained Acute Heart Attack Ready Certification by The Joint Commission. This means that each of these locations has demonstrated a commitment to a high standard of service and seeks to maintain The Joint Commission’s high standards in providing cardiac care. We are the first in Wisconsin to have a Joint Commission-certified heart attack program.

 

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Our Cardiovascular Program continues to receive recognition as one of the top programs nationally. We are honored to provide high-quality, effective care for even the most high-risk patients.

  • The Froedtert & MCW health network has built a reputation for clinical excellence and our research draws patients from around the world. Our Heart & Vascular program recognitions include:

    • Premier recognized Froedtert Hospital in 2025 as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals® according to its independent quality analysis based on a balanced scorecard. The hospitals recognized in the top 50 operated at lower cost and had better outcomes, recording significantly higher inpatient survival rates, fewer patients with complications, lower readmission rates and up to nearly $7,000 less in total costs per patient case. Froedtert Hospital was ranked in the category of top teaching hospitals with a cardiovascular residency program. No other hospital in Wisconsin was recognized with this national distinction.
    • The International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS) recognizes our Cardio-Oncology Program as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence in 2025. ICOS certification is awarded to institutions and practices that demonstrate superior expertise in the care of patients who have heart disease, are at high risk or experience heart complications with cancer treatment. The ICOS awards bronze, silver and gold certification. Of the two ICOS-certified programs in Wisconsin, we are the only one that meets the stringent requirements needed to be recognized as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence.
    • Healthgrades recognized Froedtert Hospital in its 2024 Specialty Excellence Awards, including one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery, one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention, as well as other specialty achievements in various areas.
    • Becker’s Hospital Review recognized Froedtert Hospital within its 2024 list of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Heart Programs. Hospitals featured on this list are renowned for delivering superior heart and vascular care that results in high-quality outcomes. As part of a health network that includes eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center, our heart and vascular specialists treat a high volume of patients with a wide variety of heart diseases.
    • Froedtert Hospital is recognized as a Surgical Quality Partner and Verified Comprehensive Inpatient Vascular Center by the American College of Surgeons Vascular Verification Program. As the first hospital in Wisconsin to receive this designation, this recognition, shows our commitment to our patients in delivering the highest standards in surgical care. Learn more about this recognition.
    • The Society for Vascular Surgery's Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS VQI) recognized Froedert Hospital as a Carotid Care Quality Champion by the SVS VQI‘s clinical registry recognition program in 2024. The VQI recognizes select centers across the country as Carotid Care Quality Champions for their dedication to improving the safety and effectiveness of vascular care through participation and engagement in VQI’s carotid artery stenting and/or carotid endarterectomy registries.
    • The American Heart Association recognized Froedtert Hospital with the following awards that show our commitment to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks.
      • Get With the Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Plus Award
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
      • Get With the Guidelines® AFib Gold Award
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Resuscitation Target CPR; Resuscitation Gold — Audit; Resuscitation Target Survival
    • Froedtert Hospital earned the American Heart Association (AHA) Commitment to Quality award, a new AHA recognition, in 2025. The award recognizes adherence to the latest, research-based clinical guidelines to support better outcomes for patients.
    • In addition, the hospital was recognized on the American Heart Association’s Target: Heart Failure(SM) Honor Roll and received the AHA’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ award.

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