Heart attack symptoms are not always sudden or dramatic. Some begin slowly, feel mild, or come and go. A webpage cannot determine whether your symptoms are a heart attack.
If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack, call 911 right away—even if you are not sure. Do not wait for a routine appointment or an office call back.
Common warning signs
The American Heart Association advises calling 911 for possible heart attack symptoms. Warning signs can include:
- Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and returns; it may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
- A cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness, unusual tiredness, or a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Symptoms can look different from person to person
Chest discomfort is common, but it is not the only possible sign. Women may also experience shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, back, shoulder, or jaw discomfort, and unusual tiredness or weakness. Anyone can have symptoms that feel less typical.
Do not try to rule out a heart attack based on age, sex, symptom intensity, or whether the feeling improves for a while.
Why call 911 instead of driving yourself
Emergency medical services can begin assessment and treatment when they arrive and coordinate transport to the hospital. Symptoms can worsen suddenly, so driving yourself or having someone drive you may delay appropriate emergency care.
When the cardiology office is appropriate
Routine visits are appropriate for ongoing questions, risk-factor management, test follow-up, and symptoms that your clinician has already evaluated and told you how to manage. If symptoms are new, severe, worsening, or could be a heart attack, use 911 rather than an office message.
Sources
- American Heart Association: Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
- American Heart Association: Heart Attack Explained