this is a very good question. thank you for asking it! many people visualize a heart attack the way hollywood portrays it: a person suddenly clutches his chest and falls unconscious to the floor. that sometimes happens but often heart attack signs and symptoms are more subtle. the signs and symptoms of a heart attack include: pain or discomfort in the chest. this can include feelings described as "aching " "crushing " "squeezing " "painful " "pressure " or some other word for "discomfort. " pain or discomfort that "radiates" into the jaw or arm area. pain or discomfort in the mid-back area. women experience this more often than men. the back discomfort may feel like a muscle spasm that won't go away. sudden shortness of breath. sweating. anxiety. nausea or vomiting. fainting. heart attacks are caused by loss of oxygen flow to the heart muscle. this can be caused by a blocked artery. it's important to note the chest pain that normally accompanies a heart attack may clear up within a few minutes. this does not mean you should not get emergency medical treatment. it does not mean your possible heart attack has "gone away. " very often people have "small" heart attacks several times before a "big one" hits them. if you or a loved one have any signs or symptoms of a heart attack even if they clear up within a short period of time you should seek medical attention. wishing you well!
how long do symptoms of a heart attack last