Early Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

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Heart attacks don’t always start with sudden, crushing chest pain.
In many cases, subtle symptoms appear hours or even days before.

Common early warning signs

1. Chest discomfort — pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain that comes and goes.
2. Pain in other areas — discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath — with or without chest discomfort.
4. Unusual fatigue — especially in women, this can precede other symptoms.
5. Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.

What to do

• Call emergency services immediately — don’t wait to see if symptoms go away.
• Chew aspirin (unless allergic or advised not to) while waiting for help.
• Stay calm and still — moving around can worsen heart strain.

Early recognition saves lives — act fast if you or someone else may be having a heart attack.