The Five Common Heart Attack Symptoms Everyone Should Know

Few pairs of words in the English language inspire as much fear as these two: heart attack. The specter of what is also called “myocardial infarction,” looms large for many people over the age of 45. Lifestyle choices play an outsized role in risk, but even healthy individuals can suffer a heart attack. That’s why knowing the common heart attack symptoms is so vital. 

A heart attack can strike without warning. Every minute counts. Read on to learn more about how to reduce your risk and how one company’s work improving cardiovascular health is helping extend the lifespan of their patients. Because the best way to survive a heart attack is not to have one.  

Here are five common heart attack symptoms, some less common symptoms of heart attacks in women and the warning signs of heart problems. 

What is a Heart Attack? 

Think about it. Every day the average heart beats 100,00 times. That’s 35 million beats per year – around 2.5 billion heart beats in the average lifespan. The size of two adult fists, the heart is situated dead center in the middle of the chest. Nestled between the lungs, this amazing organ has two sides and four chambers. Veins deliver oxygen-poor blood to the right side where it is pumped into the lungs. There the blood receives oxygen while getting rid of carbon dioxide. On the heart’s left side, lungs deliver oxygen-rich blood which is pumped through your arteries to the rest of your body. Pretty much every life function is dependent upon consistent delivery of oxygen rich blood. 

Like a jack-knifed semi truck halting freeway traffic, a heart attack usually begins with a blockage. Cholesterol, fat, or another substance builds up in the coronary arteries. When the blockage is slow-developing, it’s known as atherosclerosis. Along with plaque buildup, it can also form an immediately life threatening blood-blocking clot. 

These issues may not present as symptoms. There’s a reason heart disease is often called “the silent killer.” That’s why it’s vital to get your cardiovascular health checked today. Kyla offers a variety of at-home tests for just $99 – far less than what many companies charge. Simply fill out an easy quiz to discover the right one and in a few days the testing kit will arrive at your home. Submit a sample and soon you’ll learn not only about your cardiovascular health but also critical hormone levels, blood sugar, liver, and kidney function,as well as inflammation markers.

By working with a Kyla doctor you can develop a strategy to prevent a heart attack, not just learn the common heart attack symptoms. Because not every heart attack is caused by blocked arteries – sometimes blood vessels are squeezed. A coronary artery spasm may follow familiar signs of a heart condition that usually occurs after decades of smoking along with obesity and  elevated cholesterol levels. Viral infections including COVID-19 can also damage the heart. However, more than 90% of heart attacks are caused by blockages.

Without consistent blood flow, organs can die — and during a heart attack this lack of blood flow damages or even destroys this vital organ. Anyone experiencing the following symptoms – especially a constellation of symptoms – should immediately call for medical assistance. That means calling 911 unless the family physician is immediately reachable.

1. The Most Common Heart Attack Symptom is Pain

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a heart attack. That’s over 800,000 every year. Almost all of them are experiencing a heart attack for the very first time. Twenty percent of them are under the age of 65 — in certain conditions, even teenagers have suffered fatal heart attacks. That’s why it’s so important to recognize the early warning signs of heart attacks.

Of all the heart attack symptoms, pain is by far the most common. Survivors often describe an almost unendurable agony. Men often compare it to a strong fist squeezing their heart. Chest pain is also one of the best known symptoms of heart attacks in women, but they are more likely to describe it as a heavy weight placed upon their sternum. Although some confuse a serious panic attack with a heart attack, it’s far rarer for someone to confuse a heart attack with anything else. It tends to be that distinct. 

This pain often radiates across the upper extremities including the arms, back, neck, jaw and teeth. It can also be felt in the upper part of the stomach, although this is less common. Myocardial infarction symptoms vary so it’s important to be aware that even if the pain doesn’t seem severe, it could indicate an issue. Half of all heart attack deaths occur outside of a hospital within one hour of symptoms presenting. 

Time is of the essence – not just with a heart attack but with a hidden heart condition. By accessing the Kyla App, you will discover insights about your internal health and be able to take charge against chronic conditions including heart disease. This is how you can lengthen your healthspan — adding years of healthy living to your life.

2. Shortness of Breath is Another One of the Signs of Heart Attacks

Having difficulty breathing is another of the heart attack symptoms. When difficulty breathing and chest pain combine, it’s not something that can be ignored. Calling 911 and getting immediate assistance is vital. It’s important to note that shortness of breath is also one of the more common symptoms of heart attacks in women.

3. Fatigue, Cold Sweat, Or Anxiety Are Often Signs of Heart Attacks 

Panic attacks sometimes feel like myocardial infarction symptoms. The difference is that with a heart attack the pain and shortness of breath are more severe. They also do not improve with deep breathing exercises or sitting down. Cold sweat accompanied by severe chest pain is definitely one of the common heart attack symptoms. 

4. Be Aware of Lightheadedness or Sudden Dizziness

In the midst of a heart attack, it’s normal to experience lightheadedness or dizziness. This comes on quickly, the result of reduced blood flow throughout the body including to the brain. Anyone witnessing someone with chest pain or anxiety who suddenly is having trouble standing should call 911. At this stage of a heart attack, the person experiencing it may no longer be able to call for themselves. 

The good news is that you are capable of taking control now. That means embarking on a program that incorporates lifestyle changes along with the expert advice of a healthcare professional. 

Following at-home tests, you will have the opportunity to speak with a Kyla doctor who can advise you about the necessity of other tests like the Clearly test and the Calcium scoring test. These sessions will help you discover how your lifestyle affects your heart. You’ll not only be able to track vital health indicators like primary care and hormone levels, but also monitor your data conveniently on the Kyla app. This will help you visualize your progress through graphs for better insights.

5. Heartburn, Indigestion, or Nausea Are Three of the Most Common Symptoms of Heart Attacks in Women 

Although experiencing what seems like the aftermath of an ill-timed spicy meal occurs in both men and women, nausea or indigestion are some of the more common signs of heart attacks in women. In fact, the differences between how the two genders experience a heart attack is a big reason so many women in the past have died from misdiagnosis. Often women were sent home with anti-nausea medicine, only to die at home. 

Today women are at increasing risk for heart disease. Women under the age of 50 who are experiencing heart attack symptoms are more likely to die from a heart attack than men of the same age. Although fewer older adults are dying of heart attacks, women between the ages of 35-54 are succumbing more often. After reviewing more than 28,000 hospitalizations for heart attacks in four cities,The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study “…found a trend in young women,” explained Virginia Colliver, M.D., cardiologist with Johns Hopkins Community Physicians-Heart Care in Bethesda, Maryland. “But the research doesn’t provide insight into why the uptick in heart attacks is happening to younger people. I suspect it has to do with more people having risk factors for heart disease at an earlier age.”

Those risk factors include having high blood pressure (sometimes as the side effect of birth control pills or during pregnancy.)  One of the warning signs of a heart condition, blood pressure is usually higher for women over the age of 65 than for me. High cholesterol and smoking can also increase the heart attack risk. Having diabetes, being overweight, inactive, and/ or diet can all contribute to the risk. Family history also matters. 

Heart attacks begin with heart disease – and many of the signs of a heart condition are similar to heart attack symptoms. Although less severe than a heart attack, chest pain along with discomfort in the back, arms, neck or stomach is common. Men may experience it more as squeezing, women as pressure. As with symptoms of heart attacks in women, they are more likely to feel nauseous or have pain in the neck, shoulders, jaw or upper back. For both genders, fatigue and shortness of breath are also common symptoms.  Although 13 million Americans have coronary heart disease, many don’t experience any symptoms. That’s why it’s often called the silent killer. 

Heart disease consumes almost 700,000 American lives every year. It’s responsible for 20% of all the deaths in the U. S. but it doesn’t have to be the case. Instead of waiting for a heart attack or a diagnosis, you can take control. Start with a simple at-home test to assess cardiovascular heart. At Kyla Clinics, blood tests provide information on cholesterol and hormone levels along with vitamin deficiencies. 

Kyla believes that it’s possible to continuously improve one’s health. In fact, working with Kyla means discovering the secret of Longevity Escape Velocity (LEV). This once fanciful concept is now tantalizingly close – 21st century technology may soon be able to extend your life by more than a year for every year you are alive. Longevity escape velocity is not just about increasing the number of years you live, but also the quality of those years as well. By treating age-related diseases, the hope is that you will continue to be healthy and strong into old age and not suffer from diseases including cardiovascular conditions. The first step starts with you. So download the Kyla App and discover how to do more than just live but also how to reverse aging.

Sources:

1. “Amazing Heart Facts,” Nova (PBS).

“How the Heart Works,” My Health Alberta. June 25, 2023. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tx4097abc

2. “Heart Attack,” Mayo Clinic. October 9, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106
3. “What causes a heart attack?,” Cleveland Clinic. February 15, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16818-heart-attack-myocardial-infarction
4. Kinman, Tricia and James Roland . “Heart Attack Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment,” Healthline. February 15, 2022. https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-attack
5. “10 Surprising Facts About Heart Attacks (Infographic),” Unity Point Health. https://www.unitypoint.org/news-and-articles/10-surprising-facts-about-heart-attacks-infographic
6. “Heart Attack Warning Signs,” Texas Health. https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/heart-attack-warning-signs/
7. Williamson, Laura. “The slowly evolving truth about heart disease and women,”American Heart Association News. February 8, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/02/09/the-slowly-evolving-truth-about-heart-disease-and-women
8. Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention,” New York State Department of Health.https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/cardiovascular/heart_disease/ 
9. Colliver, Virginia. M.D. “Heart Attacks Striking Younger Women,’ John Hopkins. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/heart-attack/heart-attacks-striking-younger-women