Skip main navigation

New offer! Get 30% off one whole year of Unlimited learning. Subscribe for just £249.99 £174.99. New subscribers only. T&Cs apply

Find out more

Most Common Signs of a Heart Attack

Heart Attack Warning Signs
Man holding chest by heart
© Pixabay
Most common warning signs of a heart attack

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, jaw or stomach.

Other signs. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you or someone you are with, especially with one or more of the other signs, don’t wait longer than five minutes before calling for help. Call [your emergency services.] Get to a hospital right away.

From the American Heart Association

© Created for Mini Medical School by JJ Cohen 2013 Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License
This article is from the free online

Mini Medical School: Introduction to Medical Science

Created by
FutureLearn - Learning For Life

Reach your personal and professional goals

Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.

Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.

Start Learning now