A heart attack usually causes chest pain for more than 15 minutes. The chest pain may be mild or severe. Some people don't have any chest pain or pressure. Some heart attacks happen suddenly. But many people have warning signs hours or days in advance.
Heart attack symptoms can vary widely. Not everyone has sudden, severe chest pain. Some people only have mild chest discomfort. The chest discomfort may not even be described as pain.
Heart attack symptoms may include:
- Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching.
- Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly.
- Cold sweats.
- Fatigue.
- Heartburn or indigestion.
- Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness.
- Nausea.
- Shortness of breath.
Symptoms may be less obvious in some people, especially for women, those with diabetes and older adults. For example, the heart attack symptoms may include only nausea or a brief or sharp pain felt in the neck, arm or back.
Many people have warning symptoms that happen hours, days or weeks in advance. For example, chest pain or pressure that keeps happening and doesn't go away with rest may be an early warning sign of a heart attack. Always get help right away if you think you're having a heart attack.
Get help immediately
If you think that you're having a heart attack, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.
If you can't get an ambulance or emergency vehicle to come to you, have someone drive you to the nearest hospital. Drive yourself only if you have no other way to get there.
Never ignore heart attack symptoms, even if they don't seem serious.
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