Is chest pain a heart attack sign, or something else?

Symptoms of a heart attack can vary from person to person. Aside from a heart attack, there are other reasons for chest pain, making it even more important to determine the cause and treat it as soon as possible. There are indicators of the difference between heart pain and general chest pain that might help you recognize the symptoms of a heart attack.

Symptoms of a heart attack

Heart attack symptoms feel like an intense pressure or burning sensation in the chest. This feeling may be accompanied by shortness of breath, radiation of the pain to the arms or neck, as well as nausea or lightheadedness.

Any of these symptoms may last longer than a few minutes and/or come and go. You might begin feeling symptoms immediately if a heart attack strikes suddenly. But symptoms could also occur more subtly over the course of a day or mere hours. If you feel heart pain suddenly or subtly, whether it is mild or severe, seek medical attention immediately and consider calling 911.

Cardiac pain vs non-cardiac chest pain

There are multiple sources of chest pain that are not related to your heart. Acid reflux, lung conditions, and muscle or ligament strains can all cause chest pain but are not related to any cardiac condition. While it can be difficult to determine if chest pain is cardiac, there are some factors to consider.

The following could help determine if you’re having cardiac or non-cardiac chest pain:

• Cardiac pain feels like pressure or squeezing. Non-cardiac pain tends to be more of a stabbing or sharp pain.
• Cardiac pain can radiate to your arms or neck.
• Cardiac pain is typically felt in the center or left side of the chest. Right sided chest pain is typically non-cardiac.
• Heart attack symptoms do not include fever, chills and or cough.
• Chest pain that is felt constantly for days, weeks or months is unlikely to be cardiac.
• In general, chest pain that gets worse with pushing on it or worse with certain movements is non-cardiac.
• Chest pressure that comes on with exertion and gets better with rest is concerning for cardiac pain.

Regardless of whether you feel heart pain suddenly or chest pain for days, it’s important to rule out a heart attack. If you have chest pain that you think is related to a heart attack, seek medical attention immediately.

Can heart attack symptoms be different for women?

While there is quite a bit of overlap in how men and women experience cardiac pain, there may be subtle differences. Due to the portrayal of heart attacks in the movies, there is a greater representation of men experiencing heart attacks. However, men and women both experience heart attacks.

Causes of heart attack and heart disease

Heart attacks are the result of a blockage in a blood vessel that stops or reduces blood flow to the heart. While a blockage can occur suddenly, the underlying plaque that causes heart attacks typically develops over many years. There are things your doctor can recommend to reduce your risk of a heart attack, like living a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Your risk of heart disease and heart attack increases with:

• age
• gender
  • Different physiological differences can increase or decrease the chance of heart attack including hormones, other conditions more common for certain genders, and heart size or structure. 
• history of smoking
• diabetes
• high cholesterol
• high blood pressure
• physical inactivity
• poor nutrition
• a family history of heart disease
• pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.

Anyone older than 35, with one or more of these risk factors should consider getting a calcium heart scan to detect the amount of plaque build-up. This test uses X-ray technology to produce images of the inside of the body and provide a calcium score.

Don’t wait, seek treatment immediately

Chest pain and heart pain are nothing to mess around with. It’s important to see a doctor right away for any chest pain you believe to be associated with heart pain or heart attack.  

Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room if you are:

• struggling to breathe
• having heart pain
• confused or unable to think clearly

After receiving emergency care for a heart attack, your primary provider will work with you to determine a treatment plan. This plan will vary based on the type of heart attack you had. Treatment may include medicines, angioplasty or various types of surgery. It may also require some changes in lifestyle to protect your heart.

Recovering from a heart attack can be a very emotional experience for both you and the people in your life. Learn tips to care for a loved one after a heart attack, and how you can make the job a bit easier and speed up recovery.