If you are want to know more about the signs of a heart attack, you are in the right place. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn't restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die. For this reason, it is important to know what the signs of a heart attack are.
For both women and men, the most common sign of a heart attack is pain or discomfort in the center of the chest. The pain or discomfort can be mild or strong. It can last more than a few minutes, or it can go away and come back.
Other common heart attack signs include:
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
Shortness of breath (feeling like you can't get enough air). The shortness of breath often occurs before or with the chest pain or discomfort.
Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) or vomiting
Feeling faint or woozy
Breaking out in a cold sweat
Women are more likely than men to have different heart attack signs, particularly shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and pain in the back, neck, or jaw. Women are also more likely to report having other signs of a heart attack, including:
Heartburn
Loss of appetite
Feeling tired or weak
Coughing
Heart flutters
Sometimes the symptoms a heart attack happen suddenly, but they can also develop slowly, over hours, days, and even weeks before a heart attack occurs.
The more signs that you have, the more likely it is that you are actually really having a heart attack. And, think about this: even if you have already had a heart attack, your symptoms may not be the same for another one. Even if you are not sure you're having a heart attack, you should still seek medical help.
If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack, do not wait more than a few minutes before calling 911. Even waiting more than 5 minutes could cause irreparable damage to a person's heart.
Honestly, if more people were treated right away, more lives would be saved. It never hurts to err on the side of caution. If you think you might be having a heart attack, get medical attention right away. Carefully consider the signs of a heart attack listed above so that in a time of crisis, you are prepared.
