10 Warning Signs of a Heart Attack You Should Never Ignore
Summary
A heart attack occurs when blood supply to the heart is blocked, depriving it of oxygen. Heart attacks are often due to coronary artery disease caused by plaque buildup. Symptoms can be sudden or subtle, making awareness crucial. Key warning signs include chest pain—pressure, tightness, or burning that may radiate to the arms, neck, or back—shortness of breath due to fluid buildup in the lungs, and unexplained cold sweats. Nausea and vomiting, more common in women, are often mistaken for an upset stomach. Dizziness, extreme fatigue, and swelling in the legs can indicate reduced blood flow and poor circulation. Heart palpitations, loud snoring linked to sleep apnea, and a sudden sense of anxiety or impending doom may also signal a heart attack. Recognizing these signs early and seeking immediate medical treatment can save lives.
Introduction to Heart Attacks
Heart Disease, specifically coronary artery disease, is the leading cause of death in Indian adults. Coronary artery disease is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. If this blood supply is blocked, the heart muscles are deprived of oxygen. This is a Heart Attack. Heart attacks can happen suddenly and without warning. However, often, the warning signs are there, but we ignore them because we don’t associate them with heart attacks. Knowing these signs and symptoms could help you save a life. In this blog we will describe the 10 warning signs of a heart attack in detail – If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, go to a hospital immediately.
Chest Pain
Chest pain or discomfort is the most common sign of a heart attack. It could feel like pain, tightness or deep pressure in your chest. Some patients describe the feeling as “an elephant sitting on their chest”. Others describe it as a pinching or burning feeling. However you experience it, it is a warning sign and must be checked out by a cardiologist as soon as possible. Do not wait to see if the pain stops on its own. The pain may radiate to your arms, neck, back or jaw. It is important to note that not all patients who have a heart attack experience chest pain, especially women and people with diabetes.
Shortness of Breath
During a heart attack, the heart muscle is compromised. Therefore, the heart struggles to pump blood, causing it to back up in the pulmonary veins. Sometimes, fluid can leak into the lungs causing shortness of breath. This could happen during strenuous activity or during rest. This is known as congestive heart failure. Many patients also experience persistent coughs and wheezing, also caused by fluid build-up in the lungs. While shortness of breath could be an indication of other diseases, you should still visit the hospital and get it investigated.
Cold Sweats
Sweating excessively is a warning sign of a heart attack, especially cold sweats. Unless you are going through menopause, or have just exercised heavily, this is a sign that something is not okay. Combined with any of the other symptoms we had listed, this is a warning sign that you may experience a heart attack soon. Your body could be sensing danger and go into a fight or flight response.
Nausea or Vomiting
Many patients feel nauseous when experiencing a heart attack. They might even vomit. Women are more likely to experience this than men, instead of chest pains. This is a confusing symptom because patients tend to associate this with an upset stomach. Although that is mostly the case, if you are prone to heart trouble, are female and have any of the other symptoms on this list, you should take this symptom very seriously and visit a hospital immediately.
Dizziness or Lightheadedness
Feeling dizziness or lightheadedness in combination with chest pain and shortness of breath is almost certainly a sign of a heart attack. This usually means your blood pressure has dropped suddenly because your heart is in distress. This is a serious symptom and requires immediate medical attention.
Extreme Fatigue
Feeling tired or worn out at the end of a long, active day is normal, but unexplained fatigue is a red flag. Some patients feel unusually tired and exhausted, but also restless and stressed without any particular reason. This could be caused by a decrease in blood flow to the heart. Your heart must pump harder to distribute oxygen to the entire body, which could be resulting in this extreme fatigue. Approximately 70% of women experience unusual fatigue before a heart attack. If you are suddenly feeling unusually fatigued, visit a hospital immediately. This is an alarming symptom that needs to be investigated.
Swelling or Numbness in the Legs
Swelling in the legs, especially ankles and feet, is a bad sign. This could be caused by bad peripheral circulation. Narrowing of the blood vessels that bring blood to the feet does not mean you have coronary artery disease. However, it definitely means you have elected risk of coronary artery disease because you have plaque buildup in the blood vessels. Your feet may also feel numb and tingly, sometimes turning pale or discolored from lack of blood flow. If you experience this symptom, visit your doctor for a check-up.
Irregular Heart Rhythm (Heart Palpitations)
Heart palpitations are a scary symptom to have. You may have experienced it before if you drink coffee too fast – Your heart starts beating too quickly, at irregular beats and you can sometimes feel it in your ears. If your heart is deprived of oxygen and can’t pump blood properly, it may go into overdrive to keep up. Heart palpitations are serious and must be investigated by a cardiologist as soon as possible.
Snoring
Most people snore a little, often due to a blocked nose. However, this is usually soft and intermittent. Loud snoring that sounds like choking is a sign of sleep apnea. This is when breathing stops and restart repeatedly while you’re asleep. Sleep apnea is linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, because it puts a huge strain on the cardiovascular system. If you snore very loudly (ask your partner), we suggest visiting the hospital for a deeper investigation. This is a seemingly harmless symptom that could be a sign of something dangerous.
Anxiety or a “Sense of Doom”
A feeling of “impending doom” is often a precursor to a life-threatening medical episode, like a heart attack. It’s like a pre-warning from your body, that something is not alright. Although this sensation can also occur during a panic attack, it is a symptom that should be investigated. Patients often report experiencing this feeling before a seizure, heart attack or stroke. Typically, this happens first, before any of the other obvious symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath begin. The body’s intuition is strong, and we need to learn to trust it and understand what it is telling us. If you experience a sudden, unprompted panic or anxiety, visit the hospital immediately.
Need expert cardiac care, fast? Kauvery Hospital’s 24/7 emergency teams in Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli, and Trichy are ready to help. Reach out immediately—every second counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the early warning signs of a heart attack?
Common early signs include chest pain, shortness of breath, cold sweats, dizziness, and unusual fatigue. These symptoms should not be ignored.
Can a heart attack happen without chest pain?
Yes. Some people—especially women and diabetics—may have symptoms like nausea, jaw pain, or extreme tiredness without chest discomfort.
How do I know if my shortness of breath is heart-related?
If you experience sudden or ongoing shortness of breath along with fatigue or chest pressure, it could be related to your heart. Seek medical help immediately.
Are nausea and vomiting signs of a heart attack?
Yes. Many people, especially women, experience nausea or vomiting during a heart attack. Don’t dismiss it as just an upset stomach if other symptoms are present.
When should I go to the hospital for heart-related symptoms?
If you experience chest pain, cold sweats, irregular heartbeat, or any unusual symptoms listed, don’t wait—go to the nearest hospital right away. Quick action can save your life.
Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai (Alwarpet & Vadapalani), Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.
Chennai Alwarpet – 044 4000 6000 • Chennai Vadapalani – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801
