Symptoms of a Heart Attack: Recognizing The Warning Signs

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists cardiovascular disease (CVD) as the leading cause of global fatalities, claiming nearly 18 million lives each year. Around 80% of CVD deaths are due to strokes and heart attacks.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that heart attacks occur every 40 seconds in the U.S. – and 1 in every 5 of these cardiac arrests are silent.

Due to various lifestyle factors and health conditions, most Americans are at risk of heart disease. So being able to identify the signs of a heart attack can help save your life.

In this article, we’ll explain how to recognize a heart attack, including the signs and symptoms, immediate steps to take, and how to maintain good heart health.

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked. This causes damage or death to the affected part of the heart muscle.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of heart attacks.

CAD occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked, usually due to a buildup of plaque through a process called atherosclerosis.

What Does a Heart Attack Usually Feel Like?

Heart attacks can cause various symptoms, but some people may not have any symptoms at all.

The most common heart attack symptom is persistent chest pain or discomfort that does not improve with rest or with the use of nitroglycerin.

This sensation can feel like pressure, tightness, squeezing, or fullness in the chest. This pain may also spread to your arms, neck, jaw, shoulder, or back. This is sometimes referred to as typical chest pain.

A heart attack may also feel like indigestion or heartburn, especially if the pain is in the middle or left side of your chest. Remember that not everyone who has a heart attack will experience chest pain. Some people, especially women or diabetics, may have more subtle symptoms — we’ll discuss these shortly.

Other symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Sweating
• Fatigue or weakness
• Anxiety or fear
• Irregular heartbeat

If you have a history of angina — chest pain or discomfort that occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced — you may be more likely to experience a heart attack.

Angina can feel similar to the chest pain of a heart attack, but it usually goes away with rest or medication. If you have angina and your symptoms change or become more severe, it may be a sign of a heart attack.

Common Symptoms of a Heart Attack in Women vs. Men

When it comes to heart attacks, men and women experience the same symptoms (for the most part).

Chest pain

Chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women.

It typically occurs as pain behind the breastbone that feels like pressure or a crushing sensation that worsens during physical effort and it’s usually accompanied by shortness of breath.

When this pain doesn’t go away with rest or medication, it may be a sign that you are having a heart attack.

Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath may be accompanied by chest pain. This may feel like an inability to catch your breath or like you’re struggling to get enough air. It can be mistaken for anxiety or a panic attack.

Worsening shortness of breath is an important symptom to look out for in some patients, especially those who have had heart attacks before.

Radiating pain or discomfort

In addition to chest pain and shortness of breath, men and women may experience pain that moves from the chest to other parts of the body — this is known as radiating pain.

Pain or discomfort that travels from the chest to one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach can be a sign of a heart attack.

If you experience radiating pain along with shortness of breath, it’s crucial to seek medical attention. Remember, early intervention can save your life.

The Silent Heart Attack: Can You Have a Heart Attack and Not Know?

It is possible for a heart attack to go undetected. This is known as a silent heart attack — or a silent myocardial infarction (SMI). Silent heart attacks are more common in women and diabetics.

During a silent heart attack, you can experience very brief or mild symptoms that are not typically associated with a heart attack. These symptoms could be mistaken for heartburn, flu, or a strained muscle in the chest.

There are several risk factors that increase your chances of having a silent heart attack. These include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Family history of heart disease
• Obesity
• Lack of physical activity

Silent heart attacks are serious because most people won’t know to get treatment for them.

If you have any of the risk factors listed above, talk to your doctor about what you can do to decrease the likelihood of a cardiac event.

Uncommon Heart Attack Symptoms

When most people think of a heart attack, they imagine chest pain and shortness of breath.

While these are certainly common symptoms, there are also some atypical signs that you should be aware of.

As mentioned earlier, women are more likely to experience atypical heart attack symptoms, such as:

• Sweating: If you suddenly break out in a cold sweat, it could be a sign of a severe heart attack. This is especially true if it is accompanied by other symptoms – such as chest pain and shortness of breath.
• Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort: These may seem related to digestive issues, but they could be unusual signs of a heart attack.
• Swollen ankles: If you notice that your ankles are swollen and you haven't injured them, it could be a sign of heart failure, which can, among other causes, occur as a result of a heart attack.
• Dizziness: You may feel lightheaded or dizzy -- almost as if you're going to faint.

Early Signs of a Heart Attack

It's important to recognize the early signs of a heart attack to seek medical attention immediately.

Some of these signs may occur weeks or even years before an actual heart attack. Here are some early heart attack symptoms you could experience:

• Chest pain or discomfort: This type of chest pain flares up during exertion or physical activity, such as exercise, and is typically relieved by rest or nitrates (nitroglycerin).
• Shortness of breath: You may feel like you can't catch your breath or like you're gasping for air. This can occur with or without chest pain. Some people may experience shortness of breath every day and have an underlying heart condition that needs medical attention.
• Upper body pain: Pain or discomfort may spread to your arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

Does typical chest pain that does not go always mean a heart attack?

Not all typical chest pain is due to heart attacks. In some cases, people may experience this pain and have a condition called unstable angina.

There is no way to tell the difference between this condition and an actual heart attack without special tests and assessments by your healthcare provider. An electrocardiogram (EKG) and some blood tests may be conducted to arrive at a diagnosis.

Treatment and Recovery

After a heart attack, immediate treatment is crucial.

If you experience any symptoms of a heart attack, call for emergency medical assistance right away. Getting prompt treatment can help minimize damage to your heart. With heart attacks, “time is muscle”.

Once you have arrived at the hospital, doctors will work to restore blood flow to your heart and dissolve any blood clots that may be causing the blockage.

Treatment may involve medications, such as aspirin or “clot-busting” drugs (thrombolytics), or surgical procedures such as angioplasty or stenting. Sometimes a combination of methods is used and you may be moved between various departments — such as the ER, cardiac catheterization lab (“cath lab”), and even the intensive care unit.

After your initial treatment, your recovery plan will depend on the severity of your heart attack and your overall health.

You may need to remain in the hospital for a few days or longer, and you may require ongoing care and monitoring.

Some doctors may recommend further surgery after the initial heart attack treatment to improve blood flow to the remaining heart muscle.

Your doctor may also prescribe medication to manage your symptoms and reduce your risk of future heart problems.

How do I prevent future heart attacks and complications?

To prevent future heart attacks, you’ll need to take steps to manage your risk factors. This may include:

• Quitting smoking
• Managing high blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Managing diabetes
• Getting regular exercise
• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Taking medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider

Be sure to follow your doctor's recommendations for ongoing care and monitoring. This may include regular check-ups, medications, and lifestyle changes.

Where Can I Learn More About Heart Attacks and Heart Disease?

If you want to learn more about heart attacks and heart disease, visit LifeMD for online access to doctors as well as valuable resources about heart health.

Whether you’ve had a heart attack before or you want to speak to someone about prevention, licensed medical professionals are here to help. Book your appointment today to get started.