This Is What a Heart Attack Really Feels Like
In real life, heart attack symptoms are usually more subtle than what you see in movies.
Hollywood may have you believe that it’s very obvious when someone has a heart attack. After all, in movies and on television, people having heart attacks often clutch their chests as their faces show them experiencing sudden and excruciating pain. Then they theatrically fall to the ground. But in real life, a heart attack is rarely that dramatic and the symptoms may be far less obvious.
Instead of ignoring any symptoms you have because they don’t conjure up Oscar-worthy performances of what you think a heart attack should look like, here are the more likely signs that you may be having a heart attack. If you experience these symptoms, take them seriously and seek medical help right away.
Real-Life Signs of a Heart Attack
Heart attack symptoms may be severe, but they may also be mild and subtle. “Signs of heart attack present differently in everyone,” said Cardiologist Elizabeth Phung-Hart, DO. “If someone has risk factors such as strong family history of heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, elevated cholesterol, they should have a lower threshold to suspect that their symptoms could be heart-related and should be evaluated in the emergency room.” In some cases, a person may not even realize they’re having a heart attack. Here are signs to look out for:
Chest pressure or tightness. Some people describe this feeling as if an elephant is sitting on their chest.
Pain on the left side of the body. You may experience pain in your chest that radiates down your left arm or into the left side of your jaw. You may also have pain in your neck, shoulder, abdomen or back.
Heartburn or indigestion-like symptoms. It is common for heart attack symptoms to be similar to those of heartburn or acid reflux. If your pain and discomfort are accompanied by sweating or shortness of breath, or if they persist after taking a heartburn remedy, get medical attention right away.
Shortness of breath. Some people may only experience shortness of breath without any real chest pain or tightness. This makes it difficult to tell if it’s a heart attack or if the shortness of breath is caused by another condition but it should not be ignored.
Fatigue, nausea and sweating. These symptoms are often attributed to something else, especially if they are not accompanied by chest pain. Women, who are less likely to have obvious signs of a heart attack such as chest pain and indigestion-like symptoms, are more likely to experience these subtle symptoms.
What should you do if you have any of these symptoms?
If you have any of these potential heart attack symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention right away. Do not drive yourself to the hospital, however. Even if you think you feel well enough to drive, your symptoms may get worse on the way. Instead, call 911 or have someone drive you to the emergency room immediately.
Can you have a heart attack and not know it?
It is possible to have a heart attack and not even know you had it. When this happens, it may be because it is a mild heart attack that doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. But more often there are subtle symptoms that occur that may not be attributed to a heart attack so medical treatment is not sought. Sometimes a person may realize the symptoms they’re feeling could be due to a heart attack but they decide to ignore their symptoms, hoping they’ll just go away.
Any heart attack, no matter how minor, may cause damage to the heart so it is important to not ignore symptoms. Getting treatment as soon as possible once a heart attack starts is your best chance of minimizing any damage to the heart muscle and making a full recovery.
For more information on St. Joseph’s Medical Center’s Morrissey Family Heart & Vascular Institute, please visit here, and to check your risk of heart disease, please visit here.
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Date Last Reviewed: December 19, 2023
Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor
Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD
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