10 Tips on How to Recognize Symptoms of a Heart Attack
Heart disease continues to be one of the major causes of death worldwide. Among various cardiac conditions, heart attacks are especially dangerous due to their sudden onset and potentially fatal consequences. The good news is that early recognition of heart attack symptoms can significantly improve survival rates.
Dr. Anil Dhall, a top-rated cardiologist in Gurugram, shares 10 crucial tips to help you recognize the early warning signs of a heart attack. Timely intervention could save your life or the life of someone close to you.
1. Recognize Classic Chest Pain or Discomfort
The most common and widely known symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort. This often feels like a pressure, squeezing, heaviness, or burning in the chest. It may come and go, or persist for several minutes. If you feel any such sensation, don’t wait—seek immediate medical help.
2. Look Out for Radiating Pain
Pain from a heart attack doesn’t always stay in the chest. It may spread to the shoulders, arms (especially the left), neck, jaw, back, or even the upper stomach. If you experience unexplained pain in these areas, especially alongside chest discomfort, consider it a warning sign.
3. Monitor for Shortness of Breath
If you find yourself short of breath without any physical exertion, or if breathing becomes difficult suddenly, it could be a sign of a heart attack. This symptom often appears before or during chest discomfort, and it’s more common in women.
4. Take Note of Unusual Sweating
Breaking out in a cold sweat without a clear reason can signal a heart attack. It may be your body's response to stress from reduced blood flow to the heart. If this occurs along with other symptoms, don’t ignore it.
5. Don’t Ignore Nausea or Vomiting
Though often overlooked, nausea and vomiting can be signs of a heart attack, especially in women. These symptoms may be mistaken for indigestion or stomach flu, but if accompanied by chest pain or shortness of breath, they require urgent attention.
6. Beware of Lightheadedness or Dizziness
Feeling faint, dizzy, or like you might pass out could mean your heart isn’t pumping blood effectively. This is particularly dangerous when combined with other symptoms like chest pain or sweating, and warrants an emergency response.
7. Notice Unusual Fatigue
Extreme tiredness that isn’t related to physical activity and lasts for days can be an early sign of a heart attack. Women, in particular, often report fatigue as one of the first symptoms. If you feel drained doing simple tasks, consult a doctor.
8. Feel for an Irregular Heartbeat
If your heart suddenly starts racing, pounding, or fluttering, it may be more than anxiety—it could be a sign of cardiac distress. While heart palpitations are sometimes harmless, persistent irregular rhythms could indicate a serious issue.
9. Understand the Feeling of Anxiety or Doom
Many people who have experienced a heart attack report a sudden feeling of anxiety, fear, or doom right before it happened. This feeling should not be dismissed, especially if it’s accompanied by physical symptoms like chest pain or nausea.
10. Know the Differences in Men and Women
Men and women often experience different heart attack symptoms. While chest pain is common in both, women are more likely to report symptoms like fatigue, nausea, jaw pain, and dizziness. Understanding these gender-specific signs can improve early recognition and response.