Recognize the symptoms of a heart attack
January 15, 2024 – The first step to surviving a heart attack is to know — and recognize — the symptoms.
Many heart attacks start slowly, as a relatively mild pain or discomfort. The symptoms may even come and go. And not everyone will experience the same symptoms.
However, they are all signs of a serious emergency. So it's crucial to learn and remember all the warning signs.
Heart Attack Symptoms:
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort or pain in the middle of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like pressure, squeezing, tightness or pain, even sometimes described as "like having an elephant sitting on your chest." Many victims also can confuse it with heartburn, and that can be a deadly mistake.
- Discomfort in other areas of the body. This can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath. This often comes along with chest discomfort. But it can also occur before chest discomfort.
Other Heart Attack Symptoms may include:
- Breaking out in a cold sweat
- Nausea or light-headedness
Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
Heart attack symptoms in women are often not what most people consider typical for a heart attack. Women are more likely to feel:
- Dizzy
- Fatigued
- Nauseous
- Shortness of breath