Warning Signs: Silent Symptoms of a Heart Attack You Shouldn’t Ignore

In recent days, there has been a worrying increase in cases of heart attacks, mainly due to stress, a sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary choices.

Understanding risk factors and early signs is essential for rapid medical intervention, which can save lives.

The American Heart Association (AHA) advises people to see a doctor if they experience persistent chest discomfort, which may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

Health experts point out that pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach are classic signs of a heart attack, often accompanied by shortness of breath.

“Other possible signs include cold sweats, nausea or dizziness,” the AHA says.

Although symptoms of a heart attack often appear suddenly, it is possible to identify warning signs several days in advance. Recognizing these signals can lead to timely intervention and potentially prevent a serious cardiac event.

One of the first signs is intermittent chest discomfort, which may feel like pressure or tightness rather than sharp pain. This may be mistaken for indigestion or muscle tension, but when combined with other symptoms, it may be a heart problem.

Unusual fatigue or weakness is another warning sign. Persistent fatigue, despite adequate rest, may indicate inefficient heart pumping due to narrowing of the coronary arteries.

Shortness of breath, especially without exertion or worsening over time, can also be a warning sign, often due to fluid building up in the lungs as the heart struggles to pump effectively.

Palpitations or irregular heartbeats, described as a racing heartbeat or rapid heartbeat, can occur several days before a heart attack and may be accompanied by anxiety or a feeling of impending doom.

Other potential warning signs include nausea, dizziness or cold sweats, as the body reacts to the stress of a possible cardiac event.

It is important to note that these symptoms can vary greatly between individuals and may resemble less serious conditions, making early identification difficult.

Health experts point out that the symptoms of a heart attack differ between men and women. “As in men, the most common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain (angina) or discomfort.

But women may experience other symptoms that are less commonly associated with a heart attack, such as shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain,” the AHA says.

“The other tricky thing about heart attacks is that different people experience them in different ways. Some people have classic chest pain, others jaw or back pain, and still others become short of breath, extremely tired, or nauseous,” reports Harvard Medical School.

Chest pain during a heart attack is often severe, like a crushing or squeezing sensation in the center of the chest, radiating to the jaw, neck, back, shoulders, or arms, especially the left arm. This discomfort usually lasts for more than a few minutes and may come and go.

People having a heart attack often experience extreme anxiety and chest pain. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, and palpitations.