Early Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
- Posted on: May 12 2025
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone has a heart attack in the United States every 40 seconds. Additionally, heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S.
Experiencing a heart attack can be one of the most frightening times in a person’s life. Unfortunately, many adults don’t recognize many of the tell-tale signs of a heart attack until it is too late. Immediate medical intervention at the onset of heart attack symptoms significantly improves an individual’s chances of survival. Time is crucial. Every moment spent waiting is another moment when damage is being done to the heart and other internal structures. While medical care within the first 30 minutes of heart attack symptoms can improve a person’s prognosis, the average American waits nearly three hours before seeking help.
Early intervention means understanding the early warning signs of a heart attack.
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack is a significant cardiac event that occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced, disrupted, or blocked. It is also called a myocardial infarction. As blood flow decreases to the heart, the muscle begins to die, which can result in permanent heart damage or death.
The cause of most blockages resulting in heart attacks is the buildup of fatty cholesterol deposits in the heart and arteries called plaque. Plaque can also rupture, forming a clot that can block or disrupt blood flow to the heart.
A heart attack is a life-threatening medical emergency and must be diagnosed and treated by medical professionals.
What Are the Early Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
The most common early warning signs of a heart attack are chest pain and discomfort. However, that isn’t the only symptom of a cardiac event, and it may not even be the first sign that something is wrong.
Some of the most common signs a person may be experiencing a heart attack can also include:
- Chest pain
- Pressure, tightness, or aching in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweat
- Fatigue
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
Pain in the chest can also radiate to other areas of the body, most commonly down one or both arms. However, some people can experience pain that radiates into the back, neck, and jaw. People often describe feeling an “impending sense of doom” or unexplained anxiety while suffering the initial onset of a heart attack. Yet many people shrug off these feelings as irrational, ignore how they feel, and refuse to seek medical help based on a “feeling.”
It is imperative to listen to your body and trust your instincts. Your body is attempting to tell you that something is wrong. Listen to it.
Individuals should also know that symptoms of a heart attack may manifest differently in women than in men. While women often feel pain or pressure in the chest during a heart attack, they can also suffer from upset stomach, anxiety, unusual fatigue or weakness, and neck, jaw, shoulder, or upper back pain.
Many of these symptoms may feel vague or non-specific, but women should take these signs seriously and seek immediate medical attention. Unfortunately, women may disregard their symptoms or postpone medical care, especially if they do not have a history of heart issues. However, women are more likely to suffer a heart attack with no severe blockage, called nonobstructive coronary microvascular disease, than men.
Immediate medical intervention can help prevent further damage to the heart and reduce the risk of significant medical complications such as heart failure, cardiogenic shock, irregular heart rhythms, and cardiac arrest.
Your Heart Health Is in Good Hands with Cardiovascular Wellness
At Cardiovascular Wellness, we want to deliver a new standard of cardiac care, treating the whole person and focusing on personalized, innovative, evidence-based medical care. Let us help you prioritize your heart health. Contact our Nassau County office today to arrange an appointment.
Posted in: Heart Attack
