Symptoms of a heart attack include but are not limited to chest pain or discomfort. Sometimes people having a heart attack experience the following:
- shortness of breath
- nausea/vomiting
- sweating
- back, arm or jaw pain
- excessive fatigue
- lightheadedness
- stomach pain
Women’s symptoms may differ from men’s symptoms.
Symptoms of a heart attack include a feeling of pressure, squeezing pain, or fullness in the middle of your chest region. This feeling may endure for several minutes. Other symptoms for men include pain radiating from the chest to the shoulder, arm, back, and jaw, having trouble breathing, sweating, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms of a heart attack manifest differently in women and may include fatigue, clammy skin, abdominal pain, heartburn, and lightheadedness. Although these are common symptoms of a heart attack, not everyone experiences the same symptoms.
- 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
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate treatment. Call 9-1-1 or have someone drive you to the emergency room to get checked out immediately. Do not wait to schedule an appointment with your doctor.
This content originally appeared online in "The Patient Guide to Heart, Lung, and Esophageal Surgery" from the Society of Thoracic Surgery.
During a heart attack, you may also have one or more other symptoms. These include nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, light-headedness or dizziness, sweating, and discomfort in your arms, neck, jaw, or stomach. The symptoms of a heart attack can come on suddenly or can build over several hours.
- 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
- Pressure, tightness, fullness and discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that comes and goes in waves
- Pain or pressure that spreads to the shoulders, between the shoulder blades, neck, upper back, jaw, or arms
- Jaw or throat pain
- Crushing chest pain
- Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
- Nausea and/or dizziness
- Cold sweat, paleness
- Overwhelming fatigue or weakness
- Abdominal pain
The classic symptoms of a heart attack are:
- Chest pain—a squeezing steady pain in the middle of the chest
- Pain in the left arm and hand
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
Although these are the classic symptoms, today most people have only one or two of these symptoms. Sometimes people have very different symptoms, such as:
- Upper abdominal pain
- Neck and jaw pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness, or a feeling like you might pass out
Men are more likely to experience the classic symptoms of a heart attack. This is less true for women.

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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.
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.
A person may describe it as squeezing, tightness, aching or heaviness.
- chest pain or discomfort (can feel like pressure, fullness, or squeezing)
- discomfort in upper body (could be an arm, back, neck, jaw, or stomach)
- shortness of breath
- cold sweat
- nausea
- sudden extreme fatigue (without lack of sleep)
(For any chest pain, you should at least take an aspirin with a glass of water in case it is a heart attack-and call an ambulance if the pain persists or you have the other symptoms I mentioned.)
Part of the problem is that heart attacks happen in very different ways-and the discomfort can come and go, which makes it easier to blame it on something else, like digestive upsets.
The pain or discomfort can be unpredictable because the heart itself does not feel pain; it does not have specific pain fibers. The heart's nerves are not sensory nerves. But when something is going wrong with the heart, its nerves may become electrically unstable. And when they cross the spinal column, they may short-circuit other nerves-nerves that connect with your arm, for example, or your chest. And those nerves are the ones that transmit the pain impulses. So your arm aches, or your chest, or your jaw, wherever nerves are shorting out. The brain sometimes also joins the action by stimulating the vagus nerve to cause an upset stomach and a cold sweat.
So remember that half of folks who have heart attacks will not have classic symptoms like you see in the movies. This is especially confusing for women because many people mistakenly believe that men have heart attacks at a higher rate (in fact the numbers are nearly identical). Better to get checked out by a doctor if you are concerned.

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The most common signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:
- 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
A heart attack can be indicated by any or all of the following symptoms:
- 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
It is important to realize your risk for heart disease and the symptoms of heart attack so that you can respond quickly.
Major symptoms of heart attack are:
- 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
These are the major symptoms of heart attack but there are other less common symptoms you should discuss with your doctor, including:
- Abdominal or mid-back pain
- Indigestion
- Extreme fatigue
In the event that you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 or an emergency medical professional for help—even if the symptoms subside after a few minutes.
The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nor does the contents of this website constitute the establishment of a physician patient or therapeutic relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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- Chest pressure (fullness of chest, squeezing of chest, pain in center of chest)
- Pain that spreads to the inner side of the left arm
- Pain that radiates to the jaw, upper back or neck
- Pain in the upper part of the stomach
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sweating
Surprisingly, about one in five people have no knowledge that they are having a heart attack. They may feel ill or weak for a while and put it down to the flu. We call this a "silent heart attack."
There are other conditions that mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. Spasm of the food tube muscle (esophageal spasm), caused by too much stomach acid, can result in similar discomfort, as can gall bladder disease or blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism). In general, it is best to seek medical help immediately when symptoms suggest a heart attack.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.