A heart attack can happen when blood flow to part of the heart becomes blocked. It is a serious medical emergency, and getting treatment quickly can save a life. Knowing the warning signs can help someone act before the condition becomes worse.
The most common warning sign is chest discomfort. It may feel like pressure, squeezing, heaviness, tightness, or burning in the middle of the chest. Some people describe it as feeling like something heavy is sitting on their chest. The discomfort may last for several minutes or disappear and return.
Pain or discomfort can also spread to other parts of the body. It may move to the left or both arms, shoulders, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach. This can sometimes be mistaken for muscle pain, indigestion, or another less serious problem.
Another warning sign is shortness of breath. A person may struggle to breathe even when they are not doing heavy physical activity. It can occur with or without chest pain.
Some people may experience unusual sweating, especially cold or sudden sweating. Others may feel weak, dizzy, light-headed, or suddenly tired. These symptoms can be particularly easy to ignore because they may look like ordinary exhaustion.
A heart attack can also cause nausea, vomiting, or stomach discomfort. Women, older adults, and people with diabetes may sometimes experience less obvious symptoms rather than severe chest pain.
It is important not to wait for all the symptoms to appear. If someone suddenly develops chest pressure, breathing difficulties, severe weakness, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder, treat it as an emergency.
Call the local emergency service immediately and seek medical help. Do not drive yourself to the hospital if emergency assistance is available. While waiting for help, stay calm, sit or rest in a safe position, and avoid unnecessary physical activity.
Recognizing these warning signs can make a major difference. A heart attack does not always look the same in everyone, so unusual or sudden symptoms should never be ignored.
