Heart Attack Symptoms

Heart attack is a leading cause of death in both men and women. Therefore, it is important for everyone to learn about heart attack symptoms. Knowing the early warning signs of a heart attack can protect you and your loved ones from serious health complications or even death due to a massive heart attack.
 
Interestingly, men and women often report feeling very different symptoms when they experience a heart attack. While men often describe feeling chest pain that extends to their shoulders, arms and backs, many women report more subtle symptoms, such as fatigue or anxiety.
 
The so-called classic symptoms of acute myocardial infarction, the medical term for a heart attack, include:
  • anxiety
  • chest pain (typically extending from the chest to the left arm)
  • fatigue
  • heart palpitations
  • nausea
  • shortness of breath
  • sweating
  • vomiting
  • weakness.
However, it is important to note that as many as one-third of people who experience heart attacks report no symptoms.
 
Interestingly, some types of chest pain as well as some symptoms that are typically associated with heart attacks can be attributed to other health issues, such as gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) or pinched nerves. Angina can also cause symptoms similar to those of a heart attack. However, angina symptoms are acute, tending to last only a few minutes. Heart attack symptoms can last for several hours.
 
In this section, we'll discuss the various symptoms of heart attacks. We'll provide information on heart attack symptoms in men and women and also review angina symptoms.

Heart Attack in Men

According to the Center for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States. Thus, it is important for men to know the following symptoms of heart attack:
  • abdominal discomfort
  • chest pain or discomfort
  • discomfort in one or both arms, the neck, jaw, back and/or stomach
  • shortness of breath.
While many men know chest pain is a heart attack symptom, many men don't know other symptoms of heart attack in men.

Heart Attack in Women

As with men, the most common symptom of a heart attack is some form of chest pain. However, women are more likely than men to have symptoms that often aren't linked to chest pain, including:
  • abdominal discomfort
  • dizziness
  • fatigue
  • shortness of breath
  • sweating.
In addition, heart attack in women may be accompanied by sleep disturbances.

Angina Symptoms

Angina is chest pain that is caused when blood flow to the heart muscle is restricted. Often, people who are experiencing angina describe the chest pain as squeezing, pressure, heaviness or tightness. This pain can extend to the arms, neck, jaw, shoulders and back.
 
As with heart attacks, angina symptoms can vary from men to women. For instance, women may suffer from nausea and abdominal pain in addition to other angina symptoms.
 
Resources
 
Kam, K. (n.d.) His guide to a heart attack: Symptoms in men. Retrieved October 22, 2007, from the WebMD Web site: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/
his-guide-to-a-heart-attack.
 
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2007). Angina. Retrieved October 22, 2007, from the Mayo Clinic Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/angina/DS00994/
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Mayo Clinic Staff. (2006). Heart attack. Retrieved October 22, 2007, from the Mayo Clinic Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-attack/DS00094/
DSECTION=1.