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When it comes to heart attacks, there is not just one symptom. It could be the well-known chest pain, a throbbing arm, or could even just be a toothache.
Heart attack signs are not stereotypical. There certainly can be the visual signs of the grabbing chest or arm that we know. Yet those are not the only things to keep your eye on. Not every heart attack patient is the same and it can differ based on if it is a man or woman.
Men experience pressure
The usual suspects are there for men: fullness, tightness, and pressure in the chest. There can also be extra with neck pressure, left shoulder pressure and stress radiating down the arm.
"These symptoms can be sudden or ongoing, and often occur with exertion," said Sergio Collado, MD, from McKay-Dee Cardiology Clinic. "Also, these symptoms may stop when the exertion stops, and may be reproduced when exertion continues."
Women symptoms could be more subtle
How women experience heart attacks could be the same that men feel. But they also could drastically differ. Collado said it could be just a mild shortness of breath or mild shoulder pain. Simple problems that could mean a drastic heart attack.
Another potential sign for women is extreme fatigue. It's important to pay attention to your body and recent troubles. Dr. Margit Lister, from Intermountain North Ogden Clinic spoke with KSL about the subtle symptoms that women may experience in a heart attack.
Heartburn or a heart attack?
Most misconceptions include patients who think that they have simple heartburn, or are convinced that it is just a stomach or gallbladder problem.
"Many times a heart attack is not a catastrophic event. Even tooth pain or ear and shoulder pain may be something more," Collado said.
"We see a lot of patients that attribute their symptoms to something completely different, and are amazed when we tell them that they have been having an ongoing heart attack for several weeks."
What to do if you are experiencing a heart attack:
- Call 911
- Sit or lie down
- Do NOT go to the hospital in a private car. You might need emergency care on the way to the hospital – which ambulance staff can provide.
