Do heart attacks hurt?

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
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Can a heart attack feel painless?

Answer From Rekha Mankad, M.D. A silent heart attack is a heart attack that has few, if any, symptoms or has symptoms not recognized as a heart attack. A silent heart attack might not cause chest pain or shortness of breath, which are typically associated with a heart attack.
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Can you feel heart attack coming on?

It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath.
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What are 3 early signs of a heart attack?

Common heart attack symptoms include:
  • Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching.
  • Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly.
  • Cold sweat.
  • Fatigue.
  • Heartburn or indigestion.
  • Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness.
  • Nausea.
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How sharp is heart attack pain?

Chest pain appears in many forms, ranging from a sharp stab to a dull ache. Sometimes chest pain feels crushing or burning. In certain cases, the pain travels up the neck, into the jaw, and then spreads to the back or down one or both arms. Many different problems can cause chest pain.
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What It Feels Like To Have A Heart Attack



What is a mini heart attack feel like?

Chest Pain, Pressure, Fullness, or Discomfort

You may also feel pressure, squeezing, or fullness. These symptoms usually start slowly, and they may go away and come back. This can be complicated because these symptoms may be related to something less serious, such as heartburn. You know your body best, though.
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How long does your body warn you before a heart attack?

A heart attack may strike suddenly, but most people have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks beforehand. One of the earliest warning signs of an impending heart attack is chest pain, or angina, that occurs repeatedly because of exertion and is then eased by rest.
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What is a pre heart attack?

Pre-Heart Attack Symptoms – Female

Men may feel pain and numbness in the left arm or the side of the chest. In women, these symptoms may appear on the right side. Women may experience unexplained exhaustion, or feel drained, dizzy or nauseous. Women may feel upper back pain that travels up into their jaw.
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Can a heart attack go away on its own?

How long can a heart attack last? Heart attack symptoms typically persist for longer than a few minutes. They may go away and come back again, or they may occur intermittently over several hours .
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How can I rule out a heart attack at home?

Non-Classical Heart Attack Symptoms
  1. Nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or abdominal pain.
  2. Shortness of breath.
  3. Breaking out in a sweat.
  4. Feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
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What four things happen right before a heart attack?

Dr. Xu says the majority of patients experience somewhat typical symptoms, such as radiating chest pain, heaviness or discomfort, heart palpitations, cold sweats, and shortness of breath.
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What is the fastest way to check for a heart attack?

Electrocardiogram. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important test in suspected heart attacks. It should be done within 10 minutes of being admitted to hospital. An ECG measures the electrical activity of your heart.
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Will a heart attack wake you up?

Both panic attacks and heart attacks can wake you from sleep.
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Is it easy to tell if you had a heart attack?

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint. You may also break out into a cold sweat.
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Can you survive a heart attack and not know it?

Can you have a heart attack and not know it? Yes. A heart attack can actually happen without a person knowing it. You can understand why it is called a "silent" heart attack.
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How do I know if I've had a heart attack?

Symptoms of a heart attack can include: chest pain – a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest. pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy.
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Can aspirin stop a heart attack?

Taking aspirin during a heart attack is safe and recommended. If you think you're having a heart attack, call 911 or emergency medical services. Don't delay calling for help. Aspirin alone won't save your life if you're having a heart attack.
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Can Apple Watch detect heart attack?

Apple Watch cannot detect heart attacks. If you ever experience chest pain, pressure, tightness, or what you think is a heart attack, call emergency services immediately. The irregular rhythm notification feature on Apple Watch is not constantly looking for AFib.
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When should I go to the ER for chest pain?

Calling 911 for Chest Pain

A visit to the ER for chest pain can be life-saving. When your chest pain persists, is severe, or is accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, radiating pain, and changes in heart rate and blood pressure, call 911 immediately.
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Can you have a heart attack for days?

Over 50% of heart attacks have "beginning" symptoms that may come and go for days or weeks.
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What are 4 signs that can mean a heart attack is coming?

8 Warning Signs Your Body Gives You Before a Heart Attack
  • UNCOMFORTABLE PRESSURE. ...
  • PAIN IN OTHER AREAS OF THE BODY. ...
  • DIZZINESS. ...
  • FATIGUE. ...
  • NAUSEA OR INDIGESTION. ...
  • SWEATING. ...
  • HEART PALPITATIONS. ...
  • SHORTNESS OF BREATH.
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Can you tell if you had a heart attack days later?

You often don't know you are having a silent heart attack. Many people don't find out until weeks or months later. Recent research suggests that nearly half of all heart attacks are silent heart attacks.
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What can be mistaken for a heart attack?

Other causes of chest pain

Lung issues, including infection (pneumonia) or a blood clot (pulmonary embolism) Muscle pain, such as inflammation or injury to the muscles in the chest wall. Other digestive issues, such as inflammation or spasms in the pancreas, gallbladder or esophagus. Panic attack, or very intense ...
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How long does a heart attack last if untreated?

Mild heart attack symptoms might only occur for two to five minutes then stop with rest. A full heart attack with complete blockage lasts much longer, sometimes for more than 20 minutes.
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How do I know if my heart is OK?

Checking your pulse

Taking a pulse is a very important part of heart health checks. It measures the number of heart beats per minute, assesses if the pulse is regular or not, and identifies the strength of the pulse. Your nurse or doctor may check your pulse, or you can check it yourself.
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