Signs You Might Be Having a Heart Attack

Even though heart attacks are fairly common, and a lot of people these days survive 
them, there is still a wide gap between actual knowledge about heart attacks, and what 
the public largely gleaned from movies. Real heart attacks are often more difficult to 
detect, and can appear in very subtle ways. Knowing these signs can be great utility 
that could save your life, so this article will be exploring just a few of the signs that you 
might be having a heart attack. 

Common Symptoms  

When someone is beginning to have a heart attack, it’s not always clear that a heart 
attack is what is happening. Some people may have a range of symptoms and not 
others. Some these include the chest tightness, or heavy feeling and discomfort. 
Sometimes this discomfort can go away and then return suddenly. You might 
experience pain that radiates from the chest and out into extremities or limbs. This is 
often accompanied by a shortness of breath, or breaking out in a cold sweat. You could 
experience nausea or lightheadedness. This often happens because blood is having 
difficulty reaching its destination in the body. 

In Women

It’s important to take note that women can experience heart attack without any chest 
tightness. It’s common for them to dismiss discomfort or limb numbness as simple 
illness out of societal pressure or fear of disappointing their families. Women commonly 
have missed symptoms, so pay very close attention to your body.

The Cough 

In itself, a cough usually doesn’t mean anything serious, but there a few things that it 
would be a very good idea to watch. This is especially true if you are a person who has 
been diagnosed with some form of heart disease, or if you are in the high-risk category. 
If you have a cough that won’t quit, and you have white or pinkish mucus coming up, 
then that could very well be a sign of heart failure. When the heart is too weak to pump 
blood properly, blood leaks into your lungs, then irritating the lungs and coloring the 
mucus. If you have these symptoms, it’s important to contact your doctor immediately. 

Act Quickly For The Best Outcome

No matter who is suffering these symptoms, it’s important to act quickly before things 
escalate. 
As soon as symptoms appear, call your emergency service. If the person in question 
loses consciousness, every minute counts. 
