Reviewed by: Dr Siddharth Gupta
Disclaimer: Informative, not prescriptive.
A heart attack often presents with a feeling of discomfort or pain in the chest area. This occurs because the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen-rich blood.
Image Source: freepik.com
You might feel a tight, squeezing sensation in your chest. This happens due to the blockage of coronary arteries which restricts blood flow.
Pain may radiate from your chest to one or both arms, typically the left, and can feel like a deep ache or sharp shooting pain.
Image Source: freepik.com
Sudden sweating without a clear cause can be a sign of a heart attack, often accompanied by clammy skin.
Image Source: freepik.com
Some people experience pain or a feeling of fullness in the stomach area. This occurs due to the referred pain from the heart to the abdomen.
Image Source: freepik.com
Pain can spread to the jaw, neck, and upper back. The nerves that supply these areas are close to those supplying the heart, causing referred pain.
Image Source: freepik.com
Feeling nauseous or experiencing an upset stomach can be a lesser-known symptom of a heart attack, sometimes leading to vomiting.
Image Source: freepik.com
Light-headedness or fainting may happen due to a sudden drop in blood pressure and poor blood flow to the brain during a heart attack.
Image Source: freepik.com
Difficulty breathing or feeling short of breath can be a sign that your heart is struggling to pump blood effectively.