It's important to know the symptoms of coronary heart disease so that you can help yourself and those around you. Some of the most common symptoms include:

Angina - This is described as chest pain or discomfort, pressure or tightness, and can also be mistakenly identified as heartburn or indigestion.

Jaw Pain - Many people experience pain that travels up into their jaw line and down into their left shoulder.

Breathing Difficulty - It is not uncommon for those suffering from coronary heart disease to have problems breathing.

Sweating - Many people sweat and experience what is known as cold sweats during a heart attack.

Nausea - Sometimes, due to the pain, people will feel nauseous or vomit.

Dizziness - There is a chance that those experiencing coronary heart disease will become weak and lose consciousness.

Heart Palpitations - These are not uncommon in people having a heart attack and can attribute to the pain that is being felt.

If you believe you, or someone near you, are suffering from coronary heart disease you, or those with you, must call 911 immediately. Getting help right away can help keep you alive and keep the damage to your heart at a minimum. It is also recommended that you take an aspirin upon feeling the symptoms of coronary heart disease.

Once you are in the ambulance or at the hospital you will typically be given nitroglycerin to help stop the pain and calm the heart muscle. They will also begin to do blood work, measure your heart waves, your blood pressure, and take images of your heart muscle to determine what damage has been done.

Depending on what the results show you may be told to begin medication, change your lifestyle, and take other preventive measures to keep from having another heart attack. If the damage is severe surgery may be required to repair heart valves, blockages in your arteries, or other problems that you may have.

Always take your doctor's advice and follow all his or her directions so as to lower your risks of coronary heart disease. Once you have experienced a heart attack your chance of having a second heart attack are much higher.