Heart Attack Symptoms
Discomfort in Other Areas of the Upper Body
Symptoms of a heart attack can include pain; discomfort; or numbness in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath as a heart attack symptom often occurs at the same time as chest discomfort, but it can also occur before this.
Other Heart Attack Symptoms
Other symptoms may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea and vomiting, abnormal heartbeats, or feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
A person may also experience other vague heart attack symptoms. These types of symptoms are more common in women and include:
- Unusual tiredness
- Trouble sleeping
- Problems breathing
- Indigestion (upset stomach)
- Anxiety (feeling uneasy or worried).
Heart attacks can occur at any time, day or night, although they tend to occur more frequently during the early morning, within a couple of hours of waking. About half of the time, in hindsight, there is some heart attack trigger, such as emotional stress, physical exercise, or an illness.
The possible symptoms of a heart attack explained in this article are not sure signs of a heart attack. Other medical conditions can cause similar symptoms; however, a heart attack is a life-threatening event. Given the potentially serious complications, if you experience any of these possible symptoms, call 911 immediately for help. Also, if your angina pain does not go away as usual when you take your medicine as directed, call 911. Prompt treatment of a heart attack can help prevent or limit lasting damage to the heart and can prevent sudden death.