Important Signs of a Heart Attack Everyone Should Know

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among adult men and women in the United States. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease in America and often leads to a heart attack.

While many heart attack symptoms are similar for men and women, it’s important to note women are less likely to experience chest pain as compared to men. In fact, a heart attack can cause a range of different symptoms, from intense chest pain to tingling limbs and feelings of breathlessness or nausea. 

Important warning signs of a heart attack

Although a heart attack without any pain (in the chest, arm, neck or jaw) may be slightly more common in women than men, raising awareness of the most common ones that occur in 50% of those experiencing a heart attack is important. They include:

• Persistent or intense squeezing chest pain or pressure
• Tightness in chest
• Chest pain spreading to shoulders, neck, arm, or jaw
• A sudden feeling of heartburn, stomach discomfort/indigestion with or without nausea and vomiting
• Unexplained shortness of breath (with or without chest pain)
• Sudden dizziness or brief loss of consciousness
• Cold sweats

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the symptoms or warning signs of a heart attack, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.

How do warning signs between men and women differ? 

While the most common symptoms of a heart attack affect both men and women, women may experience milder symptoms as well as other symptoms, like:

• Nausea, vomiting or dizziness
• Pain in the back or jaw
• Unexplained anxiety accompanied by weakness or fatigue
• Palpitations, cold sweats or paleness that may appear like mild, flu-like symptoms

Men, more often, experience classic warning signs of a heart attack, including uncomfortable pressure in the chest, abdominal discomfort (e.g., heartburn), and pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck or arms.

Call Pomona Valley Health Centers today at 909-378-9512 to find out how you can lower your risk of heart attack with regular health screenings, lifestyle changes, nutrition or medical care. During these times we are open and keeping you safe and can still provide routine exams and treat a wide range of illnesses and injuries in infants, children, adolescents, adults and seniors. We also provide care for chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and more.