Recognizing the symptoms
The key to getting timely treatment is the ability to recognize symptoms of a heart attack before it’s too late. Movies and other media have skewed the image of what a heart attack looks like to the point that many people, particularly women and older individuals, may not even realize they are having one.
Chest pain is a good indicator of a heart attack, but it doesn’t always happen in every case. Chest pain symptomatic of a heart attack feels heavy, squeezing and typically starts in the center of the chest. The pain may come and go or last for a long time and often radiates to the neck or arms, according to MedicineNet.
According to MedicineNet and the Mayo Clinic, women are more likely to experience other symptoms with (or instead of) chest pain. Other common indicators of a heart attack include:
— Jaw pain or a headache
— Shortness of breath
— Nausea/vomiting
— Sweating
— Cramping in abdomen (occurs in upper or middle abdomen and feels heavy)
— Heartburn
— Upper back pain
