What Are The Signs of A Heart Attack? Signs of a heart attack range from the most classic sign of feeling liken an elephant is sitting on your chest with sweating and arm and jaw pain to less classical signs of a heart attack such as back pain, jaw pain, neck pain, nausea, shortness of breath, palpitations, indigestion, dizziness, and passing out.
The key take away point from this article is that if there is any concern for a heart attack whatsoever, every second counts when it comes to obtaining emergent evaluation. In this article we will discuss signs of a heart attack in more depth from the typical to the atypical in an aim to educate readers about signs of a heart attack and hopefully help save some heart muscle and some lives!
Signs Of A Heart Attack May Differ In Women
It’s critical to recognize that signs of a heart attack may differ in women. In addition to the typical symptom of chest pain a heart attack; women experience other atypical symptoms more frequently than men. This has led to many disparities in care over the years and there is now a strong movement to educate both healthcare providers and patients to be vigilant to this. Whereas men may more frequently experience chest pain as a sign of a heart attack, women may experience back pain, jaw pain, neck pain, nausea, shortness of breath, palpitations, indigestion, dizziness, and passing out.
Signs of a Heart Attack – Chest Pain That May Radiate
Chest pain is the most common and classic sign of a heart attack. It is often poorly localized, but is classically in the area behind the breastbone and associated with a pressure like sensation. The pain may radiate to the neck and jaw and the arms, the left arm most classically with a squeezing like sensation. These symptoms are known as angina. In stable angina these symptoms will often occur with exertion or emotional distress and go away with rest. If the symptoms last more than a few minutes then the diagnosis is certainly not considered stable angina and help should be sought.
Signs of a Heart Attack – Sweating
The medical term for sweating here is diaphoresis, a well-known sign of a heart attack. This occurs due to activation of a defense mechanism known as the sympathetic nervous system, a kind of fight or flight response. The sweating may occur with or without chest pain, and may occur with other non-chest pain symptoms in a heart attack such as arm pain, jaw pain, shortness of breath and such.
Signs of a Heart Attack – Shortness of Breath
In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, or on its own, shortness of breath is well recognized when it comes to signs of a heart attack. This occurs as a manifestation of heart failure caused by heart muscle dysfunction from the heart attack.
Signs of a Heart Attack – Passing out
Passing out may be a sign of a heart attack, and as with other signs or symptoms can occur in isolation or with the other signs mentioned. It may be due to a number of reasons that include a dangerous heart rhythm and low blood pressure. If passing out occurs in a patient with any of the above symptoms, or in a patient with a known history of heart disease, prompt attention is needed.
Signs of a Heart Attack – New Palpitations
Although palpitations on their own are not likely associated with a heart attack, those that newly occur in conjunction with chest pain, sweating and shortness of breath combined are certainly concerning. They may represent simply a fast heartbeat in response to the heart attack, or an arrhythmia directly caused by the heart attack such as ventricular tachycardia.
Signs of a Heart Attack – Shock
The shock referred to here is the process by where the body is unable to compensate for the affects of the heart attack such as heart failure. This generally means the output of the heart is insufficient in terms of what the body needs. Associated symptoms may be light headed and dizziness, a cool and clammy appearance, fast heart rate and low blood pressure. Shock in general would be associated with a pretty large heart attack.
What To Do If Experiencing Signs of a Heart Attack?
The term time is muscle is very relevant here. In the setting of a heart attack, with each minute that passes there is a chance of increasing and often irreversible heart damage. With quick action heart muscle and lives can be saved. If a heart attack is suspected then an ambulance must be called without delay. The patient needs to be taken to a hospital capable of dealing with a heart attack immediately and action taken. On immediate encounter with a healthcare provider, if a heart attack is suspected then medicine such as aspirin will be given without delay. If a STEMI heart attack is suspected then patients will often need to be taken for heart catheterization immediately, ideally within 60-120 minute of initial symptom onset.
Signs Of A Heart Attack – A Summary
Although the classic presentation of a heart attack is chest pain and pressure, radiating to the neck and jaw and left arm with shortness of breath, its important to recognize many patients will have alternative signs and symptoms, especially women. These include back pain, jaw pain, neck pain, nausea, and shortness of breath, palpitations, indigestion, dizziness, and passing out as signs of a heart attack. The most important move if suspecting signs of a heart attack is to call an ambulance without delay as this may well save the life of the person experiencing the heart attack.
What to do, and to have before hospital is a must. Plus when , so as to prevent a very bad outcome. Such as a mad rush and a need to take a high risk to try and save a life. What Calcium score may mean ” urgent action required”.
I go to th hospital but they tell me it nothing but i get pain in my chest like a elephant is setting on it. I tell them that but they tell me it nothing i get these pains more then i use too but i wont go back to hospital cuz they tell me its nothing peps keep telling me go tp a different hospital. I get so dizzy im fell im gonna pass out. Idk what to do.
What if you are allergic to aspirin and you are having a heart attack?
There are other options such as mono-therapy with other anti-platelet agents.
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I’m 57 years old walk 10k steps a day. My resting heart rate is 50. Is that to low? When up and about my heart rate rarely exceeds 80
that’s pretty low tell your dr asap
My first heart attack was out of the blue loads of pain the worst i have ever had. The next one no
pain at all the only thing was i could only breath in a small amount.
Great article. Heart’s health is very important for us to take care of.Excercise,eat healthy food and take less stress for not having less chances of heart diseases.Here are some good foods blog for how to have a healthy heart
Today I had (2) two occurrences. I felt nauseated and a lot of pressure in my upper belly. I started sweating a lot. The sweat dropped off of me. I wanted to belch or pass gas. After awhile it let up. This happened two times about 1 hour apart.
Is it possible that I was having a heart attack?
You should go seek medical evaluation for sure.
you can follow our twitter at @MustafaAhmedMD
Heart’s health is very important. I wish all people all over the world a great health!
Hey doc. Thank you for the information about signs of heart attack. I am very glad to have learned all about the signs from your weel-explained blog.
I am from Bangalore, India. I had recently been to Vikram Hospital with my relative for his heart checkup.
Cardiology department in the hospital has very experienced doctors and surgeons. Nurses and medical staff show a great compassion and affection to the patients.
Hello, I’ve recently discovered a dull ache in my centre and right-side of my chest. I’m not experiencing shooting pains in other parts of my body, but I’m still concerned. It has been lasting for around 1hr and appearing day to day. Not sure if it’s just growing pains or not. Thank you for your time
I’m pretty sure I had a heart attack Saturday night. I went to the ER my blood pressure is insanely high and still is high today. I feel horrible and have no energy. What should I do
If you are concerned you are having a heart attack you should go to the ER emergently.
You can follow our twitter at @MustafaAhmedMD
Disclaimer: The comment response is opinion and in no way affiliated with my employer. It is a vague response that is not to be used as direct medical advice and in no way should replace the opinion of a medical provider.
Great Article! very informative blog about signs of heart attack, heart’s health is very important and to keep the heart healthy we must do regular exercise, eat healthy food and most importantly stop smoking.
Hi Mustafa, It’s really a great article! You’ve provided very useful information about the signs of a heart attack. Apart from the signs, many among us have certain myths on heart disease & neglecting the signs because of their unawareness. This article will be very helpful to know about the myths about heart disease https://www.cardiacrhythm.in/blog/heart-disease-myths-facts
30 year old female here. I have PVCs. They were caught on a 48 hour holter. They became bothersome and frequent so my cardio put me on cardizem 30 mg three times daily ..I have had an echo which was normal. 66% ejection fraction..no valvular abnormalities. I was then put on a 7 day event recorder because my symptoms were still bothersome. Came back normal. I’m now on a 14 day event recorder. My symptoms consist of fluttering sensations, skipped beats, it feels as if my heart is stopping breifly, I sometimes feel faint and of course go into panic mode. I just don’t understand how all my tests, blood test included are normal but I’m having these symptoms. Is it possible something is being missed
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Is it possible to have a 4th open heart surgery. My first was a double bypass at 28. My second followed 5 months later as the bypass graph failed. My 3rd open heart was an Aortic Valve replacement. I currently have 11 stents filling my Right Coronary Artery, my LAD and the final bypass saphenous vein graph used on my 2nd open heart surgery. I’m type 1 diabetic. My EF is 60%. My heart muscle is strong but the vessels feeding it blood are poor to say the least. I’m just wondering if it’s even possible to find a surgeon who would undertake a 4th open heart surgery on me.
Yes this is done in experienced centers if indicated after assessment by an expert team.
You can follow our twitter at @MustafaAhmedMD
Disclaimer: The comment response is opinion and in no way affiliated with my employer. It is a vague response that is not to be used as direct medical advice and in no way should replace the opinion of a medical provider.
Heart is the major organ of the human body. Everybody should be take care of health.
I had a heart attack and stroke in this oct.will be 2 years. Now I sweat every time I get up to cook or do anything else so what should I do and should I worry
I had a heart attack and stroke in this oct.will be 2 years. Now I sweat every time I get up to cook or do anything else so what should I do and should I worry