Recognizing the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack and What to Do

Written by Total Access Medical | Feb 25, 2025

About every 40 seconds, someone in America has a heart attack. A heart attack is an urgent message that your heart needs oxygen. The most common cause is coronary artery disease. When a blockage or plaque within a coronary artery ruptures or breaks, a blood clot forms around it. This blood clot can block the oxygen-rich blood from getting to the muscle of your heart. That causes the heart muscle to start dying, and you begin to feel the symptoms of a heart attack. Your doctor may also refer to this as, “acute myocardial infarction."

Don’t wait to get help if you have any heart attack warning signs. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. Others start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Pay attention to your body and call 911 if you have:

Chest discomfort. Most people having a heart attack feel discomfort in the center of the chest. It can last more than a few minutes, or it may go away and then return. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in the:
- Arms (one or both)
- Back
- Neck
- Jaw
- Stomach
Shortness of breath. This can happen with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs. Other possible signs include:
- Breaking out in a cold sweat
- Nausea
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Feeling unusually tired
- Feeling lightheaded

Symptoms vary between men and women

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain (angina) or discomfort. But women may have other symptoms that are typically less associated with heart attack, such as:

Anxiety
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Vomiting
Upset stomach
Pain in the shoulder, back or arm
Unusual tiredness and weakness

Don’t hesitate to call 911.

Learn the signs of heart attack. Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, get checked out.

Call 911 if you have heart attack warning signs. It's almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment.

An emergency medical services (EMS) team can begin treatment when they arrive. EMS staff are also trained to give resuscitation efforts to someone whose heart has stopped. People with chest pain who arrive by ambulance may also get faster treatment at the hospital.

For many reasons, it’s best to call 911 so a trained EMS team can begin treatment and arrange rapid transport to the emergency room.

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