Being aware of the common symptoms of a heart attack could help you get medical care quickly. People may experience different symptoms. The signs often start hours, days or weeks before the heart attack, so don't ignore any unusual sensations. They may increase gradually rather than coming on suddenly, but some people do experience sudden heart attack symptoms. Seeing your doctor early could prevent a more serious cardiac event. You might feel the following sensations if you're having a heart attack.
You often hear about chest pain as the main symptom of heart attacks, but it's not always a sharp or strong pain. It's often described as squeezing, tightness, pressure or heaviness. You might feel as if something is squeezing your chest or like you have a heavy weight on it. The sensation usually occurs in the center or to the left of the chest. Chest pain is the most common symptom for both men and women. However, women tend to also have more additional symptoms, such as pain in other areas. The chest discomfort could remain steady or come and go. It doesn't typically go away simply by changing your position, though.
The same pain, discomfort or tightness that some people feel in their chest can also travel to other areas. It's most common in the arm, shoulder, jaw, neck or back. You might also experience numbness, prickling or other sensations in these areas. These sensations may feel as if they're radiating from the chest.
A heart attack could cause shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. It feels like you can't fill your lungs with enough air. You could experience it with or without chest pain. Some people have silent heart attacks with few symptoms, but shortness of breath could happen with a silent heart attack.
Some people feel lightheaded or dizzy when they're having a heart attack. You might feel as if you're going to pass out. Other people feel major weakness when they're having a heart attack.
Heart attack symptoms can vary from person to person. You may feel any of the following sensations:
Heart attacks can manifest in people differently. You can experience a range of intensities, from subtle and barely noticeable to severe and easy to recognize. Women also tend to experience heart attacks differently from men. They may be more likely to also have other symptoms beyond chest pain.
People with Type 2 diabetes might have more subtle symptoms than others. Silent heart attacks with very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all can happen to anyone but are more likely in those with Type 2 diabetes. This could be due to neuropathy, or nerve damage, that often happens with diabetes.
Some other medical situations could have similar symptoms and might be confused with a heart attack. Heartburn or indigestion can often be mistaken for a heart attack. Other possible conditions that could feel similar include:
Call 911 if you have any symptoms of a heart attack. If you suspect it could be heartburn, you can take antacid to see if it helps quickly. Keep in mind that heart attack symptoms can often be subtle. Don't second-guess your symptoms if you're concerned about cardiac issues. Getting emergency medical care as soon as possible could greatly improve the outcome of the situation, so don't hesitate to call for help even if you're not sure.
Many symptoms of a heart attack could be associated with other situations. For instance, shortness of breath can happen if you overdo exercise. If the symptoms come on suddenly and with no explanation, take it as a sign to seek emergency medical attention. Breaking out into a cold sweat or suddenly having clammy hands for no reason could be a red flag, for example. Err on the side of caution and get medical attention if you experience any symptoms, especially if you notice multiple heart attack symptoms together.
