What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the
        center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or
        goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like
        uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. This can include pain
        or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or
        stomach.
• Shortness of breath. This may occur with or without chest
        discomfort.
• Other symptoms. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat
        or experiencing nausea or light-headedness.

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness or squeezing sensation in mid-chest, shoulder jaw or arms

• Irregular heart rate (palpitations)

• Nausea, vomiting

• Sweating

• Pale, ashen skin

• Shortness breath

• Anxiety, sense of impending doom

• Feeling pressure, fullness or pain in the center of the chest for more than a few minutes
• Experiencing an uncomfortable feeling that moves into the neck, jaw, arms, or shoulder
• Having trouble breathing
• Feeling dizzy, sweaty, faint, or nauseous while experiencing an uncomfortable feeling in the chest

• Abdominal or mid-back pain
• Indigestion
• Extreme fatigue

The symptoms of a heart attack differ somewhat from person to person and between men and women, but in general include:

• Chest pain or chest discomfort
• Pain in the neck, shoulder, back, arm or jaw
• Pounding heart or change in rhythm
• Heartburn, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• Cold sweats and clammy skin
• Dizziness

If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Do not drive yourself to the hospital or wait for someone to take you.

• Chest pain, discomfort or pressure. The most common signal is persistent pain, discomfort or pressure in the chest that lasts longer than three to five minutes or goes away and comes back. 
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body in addition to the chest. Discomfort, pain or pressure may also be felt in or spread to the shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, stomach or back. 
• Trouble breathing. The person may be breathing faster than normal because the body tries to get the much-needed oxygen to the heart. The person may have noisy breathing or shortness of breath.
• Other signals. The person’s skin may be pale or ashen (gray), especially around the face. Some people suffering from a heart attack may be damp with sweat or may sweat.

• chest pain or discomfort (pressure, tightness, heaviness, squeezing)
• shortness of breath
• cold sweats, nausea and dizziness
• pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw and shoulder

• chest pain or discomfort
• pain or discomfort in your arms, back, jaw, neck, or stomach
• shortness of breath
• sweating
• indigestion or nausea
• light-headedness
• tiredness or fatigue

Classic heart attack symptoms are sudden tightness, squeezing, or pressure over the chest. The pain can radiate up the neck or jaw or down the left arm. Other symptoms called associated symptoms can also occur. These include sweating, nausea, light-headedness, and shortness of breath. Not all of these symptoms occur; sometimes, there is no actual chest pain, just the associated symptoms.

Sometimes, a blood vessel doesn't close off quickly-the process is gradual, with slow plaque buildup. Chest pain in this process is called anginait often occurs during exercise, when your heart demands more blood flow. It can also happen after having an emotional conversation or a big meal. A person will feel the same type of chest tightness or pressure as in a heart attack, but the chest pain will go away in a few minutes once the physical activity is stopped. Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack or angina is important because acting quickly can save your heart from permanent damage.

Classical symptoms of a heart attack (myocardial infarction) in men include chest pain or pressure (heaviness), jaw pain, or extension of pain into the arms or shoulder, especially the left arm, unexplained shortness of breath, unexplained sweating, heartburn or feeling of indigestion, nausea or vomiting, back pain or upper abdominal pain, general lethargy (tiredness), heart palpitations (irregular heart beat), anxiety, and a sudden feeling of illness.

The most common symptoms of heart attack in women include shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue. A study found that many women reported warning symptoms one month before having a heart attack. Only 30% of women reported chest pain, which the majority of men report. Although women may not have the classical symptoms of a heart attack, they should call 911 immediately if symptoms are present.

Unfortunately, sometimes a heart attack is the first sign of coronary artery disease (CAD). According to the Framingham Heart Study, over 50% of men and 63% of women who died suddenly of coronary artery disease (mostly from heart attack) had no previous symptoms of this disease.

Approximately one fourth of all myocardial infarctions are silent, without chest pain or other symptoms. Silent heart attacks can occur more frequently in people with diabetes. Symptoms of a silent heart attack can include discomfort in the chest, arms or jaw that seems to go away after resting, shortness of breath and tiring easily. The most common complaints of visitors to the emergency room are chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath.

The symptoms of angina can be similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. Angina may lead to a heart attack.

A heart attack is a process that continues over several hours, unless death occurs.

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• Chest discomfort, particularly in the center of the chest. It may feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Discomfort can last for more than a few minutes, or it can come and go.
• Unusual pain or discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such as the jaw, the neck, the back, the arms (one or both) and/or the stomach.
• Shortness of breath, which can precede or be accompanied by chest discomfort.
• Other symptoms may include a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness.

• discomfort that spreads from the chest to the shoulders, neck and arms
• pressure or squeezing pain in the chest that may spread into the neck, shoulders and arms
• nausea, breathlessness, sweating or fainting with pain in the arms, chest or neck
• feelings of impending doom
• significant fatigue
• indigestion
• weakness in the arms

• Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest
• Pain or discomfort that radiates to the upper body, especially shoulders or arms and neck
• Sweating
• Dizziness

• Pressure, aching, or tightness in the center of the chest (although not as frequently as in men)
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness; unusual fatigue
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Back or jaw pain

Symptoms of a heart attack may include:

• Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.

• Sweating.

• Shortness of breath.

• Nausea or vomiting.

• Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms.

• Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.

• A fast or irregular heartbeat.

The more of these symptoms you have, the more likely it is that you're having a heart attack. Chest pain or pressure is the most common symptom, but some people, especially women, may not notice it as much as other symptoms. You may not have chest pain at all but instead have shortness of breath, nausea, numbness, tingling, or a strange feeling in your chest or other areas.

If you have symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 or other emergency services immediately. After you call 911, the operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength or 2 to 4 low-dose aspirin. Wait for an ambulance. Do not try to drive yourself.