Heart attack warning - five signs and symptoms you should know about

HEART attack symptoms vary between different people, but often include chest pain and difficulty breathing. These are the main signs and symptoms of a deadly myocardial infarction you should be aware of.

Doctor shows what to do when someone has a heart attack

A heart attack is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate treatment, according to the NHS.

The condition, which is also known as a myocardial infarction, is caused by the blood supply to the heart becoming blocked.

Without enough blood to the heart, it could become seriously damaged, and it may even be life-threatening.

People are advised to dial 999 and call for an ambulance immediately if they suspect a heart attack.

But, what signs should they be looking out for?

Heart attack symptoms: Signs include chest pain and difficulty breathing

Chest pain

Chest pain is a common warning sign of a heart attack.

The sensation may feel like a sensation of pressure in the middle of the chest.

The pain may spread to other parts of the body - usually the arms.

Pain in the left arm

Left arms are more commonly affected by the pain compared to right arms, but it can impact both.

The pain is caused by the heart muscle running out of oxygen. As a type of distress call, it sends signals of pain through the nervous system.

The brain can confuse these nerve signals with signals coming from the arm, making you think your arm hurts.

heart attack symptoms signs chest pain anxiety uk

Heart attack symptoms: Signs include chest pain and difficulty breathing (Image: GETTY Images)

Shortness of breath

If your heart isn’t pumping enough blood around the body, you can feel short of breath.

It’s because breathing is closely linked to the heart pumping blood around the body.

The heart pumps blood around the body, so the tissues can receive oxygen from the lungs.

Excessive sweating

Frequently sweating or night sweats could be a warning sign of a heart attack, according to medical website Healthline.

Pumping blood through clogged arteries takes more effort than usual.

The added effort makes the body sweat more to keep the body temperature down.

Fatigue

“Fatigue can be a less commonly recognised heart attack sign,” said Healthline.

“A heart attack can cause exhaustion due to the extra stress on your heart to try to pump while an area of blood flow is blocked.

“If you often feel tired or exhausted for no reason, it could be a sign that something is wrong.”

heart attack symptoms signs chest pain anxiety uk

Heart attack symptoms: Chest pain could be a sign of myocardial infarction (Image: GETTY Images)

heart attack symptoms signs chest pain anxiety uk

Heart attack symptoms: Pain in the left arm could be a sign of a heart attack (Image: GETTY Images)

While people may have one or more of these symptoms, it’s the combination of symptoms that helps doctors to determine whether someone is having a heart attack.

“Some heart attacks strike suddenly, but many people have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance,” said the Mayo Clinic.

“The earliest warning might be recurrent chest pain or pressure [angina] that's triggered by exertion and relieved by rest.

“Not all people who have heart attacks have the same symptoms or have the same severity of symptoms.

“Some people have mild pain; others have more severe pain.

“However, the more signs and symptoms you have, the greater the likelihood you're having a heart attack.”

Heart attacks are a symptom of coronary heart disease; one of the leading causes of death in the UK and across the world.

It’s caused by major blood vessels becoming blocked up with cholesterol.

If the cholesterol causes a blood clot, it could lead to a heart attack.

Those most likely to develop heart disease are people with diabetes, smokers, or those with high blood pressure.

You could lower your risk of a heart attack by eating a healthy, balanced diet, and by exercising for at least 150 minutes every week.

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