85% of heart damage occurs in the first two hours following a heart attack. Such a damaged heart can leave you vulnerable for the rest of your life. Needless to say, you must take care of your heart to prevent a heart attack in the future. One of the key factors in preventing a heart attack is to heed the early warning signs and address them accordingly. Ignoring early symptoms significantly increases your risk of a heart attack. Although most people associate the onset of a heart attack with chest pain, we now know that there are other symptoms too, and some of them are much more subtle.

Some of the early symptoms of a heart attack include the following:

• Mild chest pain
• Pain in the shoulders, neck, and jaw
• Breathlessness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sweating
• Severe anxiety
• Lightheadedness

HOW HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS DIFFER BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

Statistically, men are more likely to suffer a heart attack than women. They also have heart attacks earlier in life compared to women. Although a heart attack is the same for both genders, there are some differences in the symptoms. A 2003 study found that chest pain, one of the primary symptoms in men, was among the least frequently reported symptoms in women.

Symptoms of a heart attack in men include the following:

• Chest pain, as if there’s a massive physical weight on your chest
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Extreme nervousness or fear
• Dizziness
• Feeling as if you’re out of breath
• Pain in the upper body
• Stomach pain or indigestion

Note that experiencing one of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you’re about to have a heart attack. Every heart attack is different. But if you feel as if something is wrong, take action.

Symptoms of a heart attack in women include the following:

• Unusual fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Shortness of breath
• Stomach pain or indigestion
• Chest pain
• Pain in the upper back, shoulder, or throat
• Jaw pain