Heart Attack Symptoms: What You Need to Know

Every 33 seconds, 1 person dies because of heart disease, with heart attack being the leading cause of cardiovascular-related deaths. The scenario is further distressing as 1 out of 10 people who experience heart attack die within a year or more specifically within the first 3 or 4 months. The reason behind this is the lack of awareness about the heart attack symptoms. 

Early recognition of heart attack symptoms can help save many lives by prompting immediate action and treatment. It is vital to understand that it is not necessary that two individuals will always present similar symptoms of heart attack. Thus, it is vital to understand both the common and lesser-known signs of heart attack.

Classic Symptoms of a Heart Attack

1. Chest Pain or Discomfort

• It is the most classic symptom of a heart attack. Heart attack-related chest pain feels like a heavy or squeezing sensation. 
• It usually occurs in the centre or left side of the chest. In other words, this pain may feel like someone has placed a heavy weight on the chest or like persistent, intense pressure. 
• The pain may radiate from the chest to the neck, shoulders, back, jaw, or arms (especially the left arm).
• Chest pain caused by a heart attack usually lasts more than a few minutes. It may also come and go.

2. Shortness of Breath

• This feeling feels like someone has caught your breath or you cannot breathe.
• This may occur with or without chest pain.
• It can sometimes be the only symptom of a heart attack.

3. Nausea, Indigestion, or Abdominal Pain

• In some cases, especially women may experience nausea or stomach pain during a heart attack.
• This symptom is often mistaken for heartburn or indigestion, mainly if it occurs after having a meal.
• Along with heartburn, many people also experience a feeling of fullness, burping, and even a sour taste in the mouth.

4. Sweating

• Another common symptom of heart attack is that the person may experience excessive sweating even when they have not done any exertion. 
• This is thought to be a sign of the body's stress response to a heart attack.
• Along with sweating, people may also have a feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness.

5. Dizziness or Lightheadedness

• A drop in blood pressure, caused by the heart's inability to pump effectively, can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
• This symptom is more likely to occur alongside chest pain or shortness of breath but can also appear independently.

6. Fatigue

• Another crucial sign of a heart attack is a constant feeling of fatigue or exhaustion. It is more common in women.
• Fatigue may persist for some time before the actual heart attack. 
• It can make you so lethargic that even a small task that demands little physical endurance can also leave you feeling extremely exhausted. 

Symptoms in Women: Subtle but Significant Differences

Heart attacks do not discriminate against any gender, but symptoms do. Yes, heart attack symptoms in women may differ from men. This, in turn, often makes it quite challenging to detect heart attacks in this gender at the earliest. However, chest pain is common in both. Some of the atypical symptoms that women are more likely to experience include 

• Shortness of breath without chest discomfort
• Nausea or vomiting
• Back, neck, jaw, or throat pain
• Fatigue that feels like extreme exhaustion, sometimes lasting days
• Dizziness or feeling lightheaded

When to Seek Help

On experiencing any of the mentioned heart attack symptoms, it is vital to take the following steps immediately:

1. Quickly call for an ambulance without wasting any time. 
2. Hold the affected person and let them either sit or lie down comfortably so that they can breathe. If the person is unable to breathe, then immediately start CPR if someone knows to do it.
3. If available, make the person chew aspirin. This will help to thin the blood and, henceforth, increase the blood flow to the heart. 

Remember, heart attacks can manifest in many different ways. Thus, it is vital to consult a physician if you experience any discomfort. Your heart is your lifeline—take care of it!