5 Alarming Signs Of Heart Attack You Should Not Ignore

Not all heart problems come with clear warning signs. Maybe it starts with the vague sense that you’re just not feeling well: Stomach pain, nausea, shortness of breath, an uncomfortable feeling in your chest. You’re tempted to dismiss these symptoms. Maybe it’s just the flu. You’ll deal with it later after work, dinner, and the other tasks on your list of to-dos.

Think again. These symptoms should not be ignored. They are warning signs of a heart attack.

Heart disease including heart attack is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the US. But there are differences in how men and women experience a heart attack. This can make a huge difference in whether you recognize it and seek treatment.

* Chest pain or discomfort: the discomfort usually lasts for more than a few minutes or it may go away and come back; the discomfort may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain

* Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: this may include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach

* Shortness of breath may occur with or before chest discomfort

* Other symptoms: breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or light-headedness; treatments are most effective when they occur in the early stages of chest pain.

* A heart attack can cause sudden cardiac arrest. As a result of the interruption in blood flow to the heart muscle, the heart may go into an abnormal rhythm or stop beating completely. When the heart fails to beat, blood flow to the brain and other vital organs is disrupted. Without immediate CPR and emergency medical attention, cardiac arrest can be fatal.