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signs of heart attack

A heart attack is an emergency. If you or someone near you has possible symptoms, call your local emergency number immediately.

Key signs of a heart attack

Typical warning signs include:

  • Chest pain or discomfort (pressure, heaviness, tightness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest, often lasting more than a few minutes or coming and going).
  • Pain or discomfort spreading to other areas: one or both arms, shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.
  • Shortness of breath, which may occur with or without chest pain.
  • Cold sweat or clammy skin.
  • Nausea, indigestion-like discomfort, or vomiting.
  • Feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or about to faint.
  • Unusual tiredness or extreme fatigue.

Some people (especially women, older adults, and people with diabetes) may have milder or atypical symptoms such as jaw or back pain, shortness of breath, or extreme fatigue without strong chest pain.

Early or subtle warning signs

Hours, days, or even weeks before a heart attack, some people notice:

  • More frequent or new chest discomfort with activity or stress.
  • Unusual fatigue that is out of proportion to daily activity.
  • Episodes of shortness of breath with mild exertion.
  • Unexplained sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness.

These early signs can come and go, so people sometimes ignore them; they still need urgent medical evaluation.

How symptoms may differ

Although there is overlap, patterns can differ:

  • Men: More likely to report classic crushing chest pain with pain radiating down the left arm.
  • Women: More likely to have shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, back or jaw pain, or unusual fatigue, sometimes without prominent chest pain.
  • Older adults and people with diabetes: Higher risk of “silent” or very subtle heart attacks, with vague symptoms like weakness, mild breathlessness, or discomfort they may mistake for indigestion.

What to do if you suspect a heart attack

If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack:

  1. Call emergency services immediately (do not drive yourself if possible).
  2. Sit or lie down and rest while you wait for help.
  3. If not allergic and not otherwise told to avoid it, some guidelines suggest chewing an adult-dose aspirin while awaiting emergency advice (only if the person is awake and able to swallow), but this should never delay calling for help.
  4. Follow any instructions from emergency medical personnel over the phone.

Do not wait to see if symptoms go away; rapid treatment can save heart muscle and life.

Mini FAQ and current context

  • Heart attacks remain one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and recent public health messaging continues to stress recognizing early warning signs quickly.
  • Recent news and hospital blogs in 2025–2026 highlight that many people still delay seeking help by hours because they misread mild or “indigestion-like” pain.

If in doubt, treat chest or upper-body discomfort as an emergency and get checked immediately. It is always safer to be evaluated than to wait and be wrong.

TL;DR: Chest pressure or pain, pain spreading to arm/back/jaw, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, dizziness, or unusual fatigue can all be signs of a heart attack; call emergency services right away.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.