Heart Attack Warning Signs: What to Watch For and When to Call 911

Every year, over 697,000 people in the U.S. die from a heart attack. Many of these deaths could have been prevented-not by new drugs or fancy surgery-but by recognizing the signs early and calling emergency services immediately. The truth is, heart attacks don’t always look like what you see in the movies. There’s no dramatic clutching of the chest, no collapsing onto the floor. Sometimes, it’s just a strange pressure in your chest, or a jaw that aches for no reason, or sudden, unexplained fatigue that won’t go away.

What Does a Heart Attack Actually Feel Like?

A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of your heart gets blocked. That blockage starves the heart muscle of oxygen. The longer it goes without help, the more damage is done. Every minute counts. Research shows you lose about 1.5 million heart cells every minute after a heart attack starts.

The most common sign is discomfort in the center of your chest. It’s not always sharp pain. People describe it as:

• Pressure, like something heavy is sitting on your chest
• Squeezing or tightness
• A burning or full feeling

This discomfort lasts more than a few minutes-or it comes and goes. If you’ve ever had indigestion, this feels different. It doesn’t go away with antacids. It doesn’t improve when you sit down. It just stays there.

It’s Not Just the Chest

Almost two out of three people who have a heart attack feel pain or discomfort somewhere else in their upper body. This is where people get confused. They think, “My chest is fine, so it can’t be my heart.” But that’s exactly when things go wrong.

Look out for:

• Pain or numbness in one or both arms
• Discomfort radiating to your back, neck, or jaw
• Stomach pain that feels like indigestion or heartburn

One woman in Auckland described her heart attack as “a weird ache under my left shoulder blade.” She thought it was from sleeping funny. It wasn’t. Another man said his jaw hurt for three days before he collapsed. His dentist thought it was a tooth infection. It was his heart.

Other Symptoms You Can’t Ignore

These signs often show up alone-or with chest discomfort:

• Shortness of breath: You can’t catch your breath, even when you’re sitting still. This happens in 40% of cases, even without chest pain.
• Cold sweat: You break out in a sudden, clammy sweat-no fever, no exertion.
• Nausea or vomiting: Especially common in women. It feels like a bad stomach bug.
• Lightheadedness or dizziness: You feel like you might faint.
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat: Your heart races or skips beats for no reason.
• Extreme fatigue: Not just tired. You feel like you’ve run a marathon while lying in bed. Women report this more than men-nearly half of women feel this way before a heart attack.

These symptoms don’t always come together. Sometimes, it’s just one. And that’s why so many people delay calling for help.

Women Don’t Have the Same Symptoms as Men

Men are more likely to have classic chest pain. But women? Not so much. Only 64% of women feel chest pain during a heart attack, compared to 90% of men. That’s why women are more likely to be misdiagnosed.

Women are:

• 58% more likely to have shortness of breath as their main symptom
• 47% more likely to feel nauseous or throw up
• 37% more likely to have back or jaw pain without chest discomfort

And here’s something terrifying: women over 55 are twice as likely as men their age to feel overwhelming anxiety or stomach upset before a heart attack. One woman told her doctor she felt like “something awful was about to happen.” She was right. She had a heart attack the next day.

Older Adults Might Not Feel Pain at All

People over 75 often have what’s called a “silent heart attack.” No chest pain. No warning. Just fatigue, confusion, or sudden trouble breathing. Sometimes, they just feel “off.”

One in three heart attacks in people over 75 show no chest pain. That’s why it’s so dangerous. People think, “I’m just getting older.” But it could be their heart.

What About Younger People?

Heart attacks aren’t just for older adults. Cases in people aged 25 to 44 have been rising by 2% every year since 2000. Younger people often dismiss symptoms as stress, anxiety, or a bad diet. A 32-year-old woman in Wellington ignored jaw pain for three days. She thought it was TMJ. It was a blocked artery. She survived-but barely.

What Should You Do If You Suspect a Heart Attack?

Don’t wait. Don’t drive yourself. Don’t call a friend to come over. Call emergency services right now.

Here’s what to do:

1. Call 911 (or your local emergency number). Ambulances can start treatment on the way. They get you to the hospital 25% faster than driving yourself.
2. Chew one 300mg aspirin if you’re not allergic and your doctor hasn’t told you to avoid it. Aspirin helps thin the blood and can reduce damage.
3. Stay calm and sit down. Don’t try to walk around or exert yourself.
4. Don’t wait to see if it gets better. If symptoms last more than 5 minutes, call 911. Even if you’re not sure.

Most people wait over three hours before calling. That’s too long. The ideal window for treatment is 90 minutes from the first symptom. After that, the damage becomes permanent.

Why People Wait-And Why That’s Deadly

Why do so many delay help?

• Doubt: “Maybe it’s just gas.” “I’m probably just stressed.”
• Fear: “What if I’m wrong? Won’t I look foolish?”
• Denial: “I’m young. I’m healthy. This can’t be happening.”

One in three heart attack victims waits more than two hours because they’re afraid of being embarrassed. That fear kills. In fact, 31% of people who had heart attacks were sent home from the ER the first time they went in-with the wrong diagnosis.

And women? They’re 50% more likely to be misdiagnosed. Their symptoms don’t fit the “classic” mold. So they’re told it’s anxiety, indigestion, or menopause.

What Can You Do to Help Someone Else?

Heart attacks don’t always happen when you’re alone. Often, it’s a spouse, parent, or friend who notices first.

Here’s what to do if you think someone is having a heart attack:

• Don’t ask, “Are you okay?” Ask, “Are you having chest pain or trouble breathing?”
• If they say yes-or even hesitate-call 911 immediately.
• Don’t let them talk you out of it. “I’m fine” doesn’t mean they are.
• Chew aspirin if they can swallow it safely.
• Stay with them until help arrives.

Studies show that 44% of heart attack survivors say someone else insisted they get help. That person saved their life.

Technology Is Helping-But It’s Not a Replacement

Some smartwatches now detect irregular heart rhythms. AI tools can predict heart attacks 30 minutes before symptoms start. But these are tools, not safety nets.

You can’t rely on a device to tell you when something’s wrong. You need to know your body. If something feels off-trust it. Don’t wait for an app to beep.

Final Thought: It’s Not About Being Right. It’s About Being Safe.

You don’t need to be a doctor to recognize a heart attack. You just need to be brave enough to act.

If you’re unsure, call emergency services. It’s better to be wrong five times than to be right once and lose someone you love.

Heart attacks don’t care if you’re young, fit, or healthy. They don’t wait for convenient times. They strike when you’re driving, cooking, sleeping, or working. The only thing that matters is how fast you respond.

Know the signs. Trust your gut. Call 911. It could save a life-yours or someone else’s.