It's Signs, Not Symptoms (01 of13)
Open Image ModalKnow The 6 Signs (02 of13)
Open Image ModalChest Discomfort (03 of13)
Open Image ModalMost of us know that chest pain is a clear sign that something is wrong, but the feeling in your chest that you have during a heart attack is not necessarily the kind of sharp pain you see depicted on television and in movies. For some people, it can feel like an uncomfortable pressure or squeezing, fullness, burning or a heavy feeling is also possible. But some people experience no chest pain or only mild discomfort during a heart attack — this is the most common sign, Mayer says. (credit:Nicholas Eveleigh via Getty Images)
Upper-Body Discomfort (04 of13)
Open Image ModalBy the same token, you've probably heard that numbness or pain in your left arm is a sign of a heart attack, but that’s just part of the story. People having a heart attack might feel discomfort in their neck, jaw, shoulders, or upper back, Mayer adds. And as with the chest, for some it could be painful, and for others it could feel differently. (credit:laflor via Getty Images)
Other Signs (05 of13)
Open Image ModalSigns like nausea and lightheadedness can occur for a variety of reasons, of course, but many people who have a heart attack simply feel “weird” in some way. It’s better to be seen by a medical professional if you have one of or several of these signs, than to wait it out and risk heart damage. (credit:Colin Hawkins via Getty Images)
Hollywood Isn't Always Right(06 of13)
Open Image ModalMany of us have a mental image of what a heart attack looks like based on what we see on television or in movies: sudden onset, crushing pain, a hand clutching the chest. As the six main signs point out, that’s not everyone’s experience. (credit:Wavebreakmedia Ltd via Getty Images)
Discomfort vs. Pain (07 of13)
Open Image ModalA heart attack is not necessarily extremely painful. Discomfort can encompass a lot of different sensations, Mayer says, including sharp pain, soreness, numbness, pressure, squeezing, burning, or tingling. “What is one person’s pain is another person’s discomfort,” he says. The main takeaway is that the feeling, however you experience it, is unusual. (credit:Monica Rodriguez via Getty Images)
Men vs. Women(08 of13)
Open Image ModalIt's Not Always Sudden(09 of13)
Open Image ModalAlways look into changes in your body that are outside your norm. That said, signs won’t necessarily appear suddenly or be very obvious. Lingering discomfort is a sign of a problem just as sudden pain is, and both should be investigated. “People need to be aware of how their body feels,” Mayer says. (credit:Jonathan Storey via Getty Images)
You Can Get Warnings Ahead of Time(10 of13)
Open Image ModalSometimes people experience signs similar to those of a heart attack ahead of time, giving them a warning of trouble to come. For example, Mayer says, if you regularly experience tightness in your chest or shortness of breath during physical activity, that’s something you should discuss with your doctor. It could be a sign of blockages or artery narrowing, and getting it checked now might save you a heart attack in the future. (credit:Tim Robberts via Getty Images)
Know Your Risk Factors (11 of13)
Open Image Modal“People don’t take seriously how much their lifestyle comes into play with helping to deter a heart attack,” Mayer says. There are several lifestyle factors that increase your risk of heart attack, including smoking, high blood pressure, ethnic background (they are more common among younger people of South Asian, black, and Aboriginal backgrounds), a personal history of heart problems, family history of heart attacks before age 55, and age in general. Discuss your personal risk with your doctor, and know what to watch for when it comes to your heart health. The upside? Changing your lifestyle, for example, quitting smoking or reducing blood pressure, really can lower your risk of having a heart attack. (credit:Adam Gault via Getty Images)
Know That Time Buys Survival (12 of13)
Open Image ModalIf you get to a hospital in time, the odds of surviving a heart attack are good, Mayer says. But time is of the essence, which is why it’s important to get checked out if you’re experiencing any of those six most-common signs. When you’re having a heart attack, he adds, the supply of blood (and therefore oxygen) to the heart is cut off. The result is muscle death, and the more muscle that dies, the higher the risk of complications if you do survive. “You heart cells don’t regrow,” Mayer says. “Once they’re damaged, they are damaged. If you delay and you begin to lose your heart tissue, there’s no getting that back.” And if you go into cardiac arrest, meaning that your heart stops beating, your brain is now being deprived of oxygen, and the question of surviving versus not surviving comes down to a matter of minutes. (credit:Oleg Moiseyenko via Getty Images)
Call 911(13 of13)
Open Image ModalAt the end of the day, if you’re experiencing one or more than one of the six main signs of a heart attack, call 911 or your local emergency number and follow their instructions, Mayer says. Chest pain or discomfort is always a reason to call immediately, but the other signs should be taken seriously as well. It’s better to be a bit embarrassed for getting emergency help and finding out it’s nothing, than it is to wait. (credit:Blend Images/ERproductions Ltd via Getty Images)