Headlines like “Your body will warn you a month before a heart attack” can be misleading. Some people do experience warning symptoms days, weeks, or even months before a heart attack, but many heart attacks happen suddenly with little or no warning.
Possible warning signs that should be taken seriously include:
- Chest discomfort or pressure
- A feeling of squeezing, heaviness, fullness, or pain in the chest that may come and go.
- Shortness of breath
- Especially if it happens with normal activities or without an obvious cause.
- Unusual fatigue
- Feeling extremely tired or weak, especially if it is new or unexplained.
- Pain or discomfort spreading elsewhere
- Such as the arm (often the left), shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
- Particularly when combined with chest discomfort or breathing problems.
- Sweating, nausea, or a feeling of anxiety/doom
- These can occur, especially in some people who do not have typical chest pain
