Heart Attack Warning Signs You Need to Know

Is it a heart attack? Or just a case of the flu?

“The symptoms of a heart attack can be severe and unmistakable, such as the classic intense chest pain, or they can be much more subtle,” says Syed N. Ahmed, M.D., a cardiologist at Sutter Gould Medical Foundation. “They can be so mild they are mistaken for other, less serious health problems, such as the flu or dental issues.”

Heart attacks are usually due to heart disease. Over several years, plaque builds up in the coronary arteries. If a piece of plaque breaks open, a blood clot will form around the ruptured area. If the clot is large enough, it can completely block the flow of blood to the heart muscle, causing a heart attack. If blood flow is not quickly restored, the tissues will begin to die.

In most cases, the heart does not stop beating during a heart attack. But the longer treatment is delayed, the more damage can occur. 

Heart Attack Symptoms

Sudden pressure in the chest and feelings of pain in the left arm are well-known heart attack symptoms. But there are many others, Dr. Ahmed says. These can include:

• Pain in the right arm, back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath.

• Feeling hot and sweaty, or cold and sweaty.

• Nausea and/or vomiting.

• Feeling faint or lightheaded.

• Feeling severely fatigued; declining stamina.

• Feeling uneasy.

“Women and people with diabetes will often have non-typical symptoms of a heart attack, such as indigestion, shortness of breath or fatigue,” Dr. Ahmed says. “They are also likely to experience more sweating than others. People with diabetes also might not notice pain as much as other people.”

Sometimes, the symptoms of a heart attack start very slowly, Dr. Ahmed says. They can come and go over a period of hours or even weeks before a heart attack occurs. (If any symptoms last for 30 minutes or longer, it’s time to seek help.)

“It’s important to note whether or not your symptoms get worse after you eat or exercise, or when you are exposed to cold,” he says. “In both cases, the body has shunted blood away from the heart temporarily, so you might notice heart-related symptoms more then.”

Your heart might beat much faster during a heart attack, or it might beat much slower; neither condition is a reliable sign that you are having a heart attack.

“If you notice anything that is unusual and persistent, and it is affecting your life, talk to your doctor,” Dr. Ahmed says. “Let us sort it out.”