According to the American Heart Association, some heart attacks are sudden and intense, while others come on slower and may not be as painful. Symptoms vary widely between men and women. If you or
someone you are with is experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
Common symptoms in
men and women:
Uncomfortable pressure,
squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such as in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
Shortness of breath —
with or without chest discomfort
Breaking out in a cold sweat
Nausea
Lightheadedness
Symptoms more common
in women:
Indigestion or gas-like pain
Dizziness, nausea or vomiting
Unexplained weakness, fatigue
Discomfort/pain between
shoulder blades
Recurring chest discomfort
Sense of impending doom
Stroke warning signs
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble
speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one
or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with
no known cause
Try to note the time symptoms began. In some cases of stroke, a
clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability, but it must be given
at the hospital emergency department within the first three hours. | 
