A heart attack is a serious cardiovascular condition that occurs when blood flow to a specific area of the heart muscle suddenly stops or significantly decreases.
Experts emphasize that these symptoms do not always manifest suddenly or with high intensity.
A real-life example: one patient felt chest pain during the day. He decided not to pay attention to it, thinking he could rest and seek help if his condition worsened the next day. Unfortunately, he died from a heart attack that night.
Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, a professor of cardiology at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University, noted that he understands why many people hesitate before seeking emergency help.
“It’s quite natural,” he says. “People often fear that they might be exaggerating their symptoms and don’t want to cause a false alarm.”
However, when signs of a heart attack appear, it is important to act immediately. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is interrupted, and if this condition is not addressed in time, the heart muscle may begin to die. According to Dr. Seth Martin, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, delaying medical assistance can lead to serious consequences.
Dr. Lata Palaniappan, associate dean and professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford Medical School, added that heart attacks do not always present with sharp and intense symptoms.
“Not every heart attack looks like it does in the movies,” she says. “For example, it doesn’t always involve a person clutching their chest and falling to the ground.”
Chest pain or discomfort
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, one of the main signs of a heart attack is discomfort or pain in the center of the chest. All experts describe this sensation as pressure, similar to having an elephant sitting on your chest.
This may manifest as squeezing, tightness, or heaviness, Dr. Martin added.
Some patients may confuse these sensations with heartburn. However, as Dr. Martin explained, heartburn is usually accompanied by a “burning” sensation, which is different from pressure or heaviness. Nevertheless, these differences are not always a reliable indicator, he warned.
If the pain lasts for several minutes or recurs, “seek medical help as soon as possible,” advises Dr. Martin.
As Dr. Palaniappan noted, if the symptoms are “new, severe, or unexpected for you,” it’s better to assume they may be related to the heart.
Pain radiating to the jaw, neck, back, or arms
Dr. Lloyd-Jones also noted that chest pain can radiate to other parts of the body. Patients may feel pain rising up their neck, shoulders, or arms, and it is usually felt as pressure.
Most often, as Dr. Martin added, people feel pain in the left arm, since “the heart is primarily located on the left side,” but pain can also manifest in the right arm.
Sometimes, chest pain may radiate to the back or jaw, causing discomfort, he said.
Shortness of breath
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, when the damaged heart muscle cannot pump enough blood, it can lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs and, consequently, shortness of breath.
This often occurs unexpectedly, as Dr. Martin notes, and can happen even at rest—without any physical exertion. It may be accompanied by discomfort in the chest or occur separately.
Fatigue, fainting, or nausea
While chest pain is a classic sign, there are other less obvious symptoms. For example, pay attention to unusual or unexplained fatigue, advises Dr. Palaniappan.
“My father, for instance, died of a heart attack in 1984, and his symptoms started with unusual fatigue,” she shared.
Dr. Martin also mentions other signs, such as nausea and dizziness. Feelings of anxiety or hopelessness, sweating, a cold and clammy sensation may also occur, he added.
More than 20% of heart attacks are considered “silent,” meaning they present weakly or not at all, which can sometimes be mistakenly perceived as the flu or a stomach upset. As Dr. Martin noted, people often do not recognize these symptoms when they arise, but damage to the heart muscle may be detected later during diagnostic examinations.
All of this serves as a reminder that if you experience unusual symptoms, it’s wise to consult a doctor, he emphasized.
If you have one or more signs of a heart attack, it is crucial to seek medical help immediately.
“Timely treatment significantly increases the chances of survival and recovery,” Dr. Palaniappan added.
In any case, do not dwell on your symptoms, as my acquaintance did, experts emphasized. The main thing is to consult a doctor. And if it turns out that you do not have a heart attack, Dr. Lloyd-Jones noted, that will be great news.
