If something were to go wrong with your heart, would you realise it? Not every heart problem shows
clear warning signs. However, did you know that most heart attacks have “beginnings” that usually
occur days or weeks before an actual attack? It is crucial to recognise these beginnings, to help prevent
the actual attack and its potential consequences on your health. People often mistake the early 6 signs of
heart attack, such as chest pain, for pulling a muscle or heartburn etc.. Some heart attack symptoms are
not even felt in your chest, and it’s not always easy to tell what’s happening. The unfortunate
consequence is that many people wait too long before getting any kind of help.
Heart attack symptoms in women are generally different from heart attack symptoms in men. But some
common signs and symptoms are seen across people. Following are the 6 Signs of Heart Attack you
should look out for:
1) Chest discomfort or pain:
It is the most typical sign of heart danger. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the
chest that lasts for more than a few minutes. It usually comes and goes. The discomfort can feel like
uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the chest. It can extend down to the arms, the
back, or to the neck and head. Both women and men have reported chest pain as the primary symptom
of a heart attack. However, in many other cases chest pain may not happen at all. It is known to be
particularly common amongst women. So, the major point to keep in mind is that you can have heart
problems, or even a heart attack, without any pain in the chest.
2) Aches and pains in other areas of the body:
By itself, jaw or throat pain may not be heart-related. It is more likely caused due to a muscular issue, a
sinus problem, or a cold. But if you are experiencing pain or pressure in your chest that is spreading up
to your jaw or throat, it could be the sign of a heart attack. The pain of a heart attack can be felt in one
or both arms, in the jaw or head, or in the back. Some people have also reported headache or tooth pain
as a symptom of a heart attack. It is also possible to have all these types of pain without any prior chest
pain during a heart attack.
3) Shortness of breath:
Feeling like you are gasping for air or are short of breath is a common symptom of a heart attack.
Shortness of breath, or difficulty in breathing, is known as dyspnea in medical terms. You may feel short
of breath before or during the chest pain of a heart attack, or in some cases, it may be related to other
heart attack symptoms without any chest pain.
4) Nausea:
Nausea or feeling sick in your stomach is a less common but a possible symptom of a heart attack.
Nausea that is accompanied by a heart attack can be very severe and also lead to vomiting. These types
of symptoms are more specific to women than men. They are more likely to report these less typical
symptoms of heart attack, and some patients have also described feeling as though they are developing
the flu. Of course, you can have an upset stomach for many other reasons that are completely unrelated
to your heart. It could be something you ate, ultimately. But, awareness that it can also happen during a
heart attack is vital.
5) Light-headedness or Dizziness:
A lot of factors can lead to you losing your balance or feeling faint for a moment. Maybe you didn’t have
enough to drink or eat, or you just stood up too fast. However, dizziness can also be an early warning
sign of heart attack, especially in women. This symptom may also appear with shortness of breath, chest
tightness, or breaking into cold sweats. If you are suddenly feeling unsteady and are also experiencing
chest discomfort or shortness of breath, get to a doctor right away.
6) Fatigue:
Excessive exhaustion or unexplainable weakness that lasts for days at a time can be a symptom of heart
disease. A heart attack can lead to exhaustion because of the additional stress on your heart trying to
pump, while an area of blood flow is obstructed. If you are suddenly feeling fatigued or winded after
doing something you had no problem doing in the past, it could be a sign that something is not quite
right, and you should make an appointment with your doctor immediately.
There can be several causes of a heart attack, but identifying these early 6 signs of heart attack and taking
signification action, can considerably reduce the risk of heart attacks.
