7 signs your heart may need urgent attention
The phrase “your heart is in serious danger” is too broad—many symptoms have causes unrelated to the heart. But certain symptoms can signal a heart attack or another cardiovascular emergency and should never be ignored. www.heart.org+1
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Chest pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain — especially if it lasts several minutes or comes and goes.
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Pain spreading to the arm, shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.
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Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
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Sudden cold sweating without an obvious reason.
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Nausea or vomiting, particularly when occurring with chest discomfort or breathlessness.
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Unexplained dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
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Unusual or overwhelming fatigue, particularly when accompanied by breathlessness or other symptoms.
Women can experience the same classic symptoms as men, but may also have symptoms such as unusual tiredness, nausea, shortness of breath, or back/shoulder discomfort. www.heart.org+1
🚨 Don’t wait for symptoms to become severe
If these symptoms are happening right now, particularly chest discomfort or difficulty breathing, treat it as an emergency and contact your local emergency medical service. Heart attacks can begin gradually with relatively mild symptoms, and some can have very subtle or even unrecognized symptoms. www.heart.org+1
A symptom doesn’t necessarily mean a heart attack—but it’s safer to have potentially serious symptoms assessed promptly than to try to diagnose them at home.
