Heart Attack Warning Signs: Symptoms in Men and Women, When to Call 911 and What to Do Until Help Arrives

Quick answer: the American Heart Association lists the main heart attack warning signs as chest discomfort (pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain), discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach, shortness of breath, and other signs such as a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. Women are somewhat more likely than men to have shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and back or jaw pain. If you suspect a heart attack, call 911 right away rather than driving. If the person collapses and is not breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED.

A heart attack can look dramatic, or it can look like indigestion and a bad mood. People often wait hours before getting help because the symptoms seem too mild, come and go, or do not match what they expected. That delay is dangerous. The American Heart Association (AHA) and the CDC both emphasize that fast treatment saves heart muscle and lives.

This guide explains how to recognize heart attack warning signs, what to do in the first minutes and how to prepare your home. It belongs to our apartment emergency kit guide, which covers the supplies and plans that help city households respond to emergencies.

Sources: American Heart Association, “Warning Signs of a Heart Attack” and “Heart Attack Symptoms in Women”; CDC, “Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery” and “Heart Disease Facts”; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), “Heart Attack”; American Red Cross first aid guidance. Checked November 2026. This is general safety information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.

Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest

People often use the two terms interchangeably, but they describe different problems. The AHA puts it simply: a heart attack is a circulation problem, and sudden cardiac arrest is an electrical problem.

A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery. The person is usually awake and breathing, and the heart keeps beating, but the muscle downstream of the blockage begins to die without oxygen.

Sudden cardiac arrest happens when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions and the heart stops pumping effectively. The person collapses, becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally. Without CPR and defibrillation, death follows within minutes.

A heart attack can trigger cardiac arrest, which is why the two are linked. The response differs: a heart attack calls for 911 and rapid hospital care, while cardiac arrest calls for 911, CPR and an AED immediately.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

The AHA lists these common warning signs:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

A similar list from the CDC adds feeling weak, light-headed or faint, and pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back.

Symptoms can be subtle

Not every heart attack begins suddenly. Some start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort that builds. Symptoms may come and go over hours. The NHLBI notes that some people, especially older adults and people with diabetes, may have few or no obvious symptoms, sometimes called a silent heart attack.

Symptoms in women

The AHA states that chest pain or discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom for both men and women. Women are somewhat more likely to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, and back or jaw pain. Those symptoms can be mistaken for the flu, acid reflux or ordinary fatigue, which contributes to delays in care. Anyone who has new, unexplained symptoms like these, especially with risk factors such as diabetes or high blood pressure, should treat them seriously.

What to Do Right Away

If you think someone is having a heart attack, follow these steps.

1. Call 911 immediately. Do not wait more than a few minutes to see whether symptoms pass. Tell the dispatcher you think it is a heart attack.
2. Stop activity. Have the person sit down and rest in a comfortable position, often sitting up with knees bent.
3. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Dispatchers may ask about allergies and medications and may advise the person to chew an aspirin. Do not give aspirin on your own if the person is allergic, has been told by a doctor to avoid it, or has a bleeding condition.
4. Help with prescribed medication. If the person has been prescribed nitroglycerin for chest pain, help them take it as their doctor directed. Do not give anyone else’s medication.
5. Loosen tight clothing and keep the person calm.
6. Prepare the way in. Make sure the apartment door can be opened, and send someone to meet paramedics at the building entrance or elevator.
7. Be ready for CPR. If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start CPR and send someone for an AED.

Why you should not drive

The AHA recommends calling 911 rather than driving. Emergency medical services can begin treatment on the way, including heart monitoring and oxygen, and can transmit information so the hospital team is ready. EMS crews also carry defibrillators if the heart stops on the way. A patient should not drive themselves except as a last resort when there is no other option.

If the Person Collapses: CPR and an AED

Cardiac arrest is the most dangerous possibility during a heart attack. The AHA’s Hands-Only CPR guidance for adults who collapse is two steps: call 911, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest. Compressions should be at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute and at least 2 inches deep for an adult. Continue until an AED arrives, trained help takes over or the person starts to breathe normally.

An automated external defibrillator analyzes heart rhythm and tells you exactly what to do with spoken prompts. Turn it on and follow the instructions. AEDs are found in many office buildings, gyms, transit stations and some apartment lobbies. Our guide to hands-only CPR and AED basics covers the steps in detail and how to find AEDs in your building.

Risk Factors to Discuss With a Doctor

Recognizing a heart attack is an emergency skill. Reducing the risk is a longer-term conversation with a health care provider. The CDC lists high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking as key risk factors for heart disease. Other conditions and behaviors that raise risk include diabetes, overweight and obesity, an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use. Family history and age also matter.

Knowing your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, and what they mean for you, is a practical first step. The CDC reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, so these conversations matter for nearly every household.

Preparing Your Household

Preparation for a heart emergency is mostly about information and access, plus a few supplies.

Make a medical information sheet

For each adult in the home, keep a short list of current medications and doses, allergies, major conditions, doctors’ names and an emergency contact. Note whether the person takes blood thinners or has been prescribed nitroglycerin. Post it on the refrigerator or keep it in a labeled folder near the door. Our guide to important documents to protect in an emergency explains how to keep copies.

Talk with a doctor about aspirin

Some people are advised by their doctors to keep aspirin on hand. Whether aspirin is appropriate for a particular person is a medical decision. The AHA notes that aspirin is not right for everyone, and daily aspirin for prevention is no longer recommended for many adults. Ask a doctor or pharmacist, and keep the answer on the medical sheet.

Plan building access for paramedics

Apartments add steps between the street and the patient. Practice the answers to these questions now:

• What is the exact address, building entrance and unit number?
• Does the dispatcher need a door code or gate code?
• Who will hold the elevator or meet responders?
• Where is the nearest AED in your building or block?

A conversation with neighbors or a building manager can answer most of these. Our article on building an apartment building emergency plan with your neighbors offers a framework.

Learn CPR

Training builds confidence. The Red Cross and AHA offer CPR and AED courses, and many local fire departments run free or low-cost community classes. Even a short Hands-Only CPR video helps if you have never practiced.

If You Think You Are Having a Heart Attack

Many people are alone when symptoms start. If that is you, call 911 first. Do not drive yourself, and do not call a friend or relative before 911. After you call, open your door if you can do so safely, sit down near the entrance and keep your phone with you. Chew aspirin only if a dispatcher advises it and you have no reason to avoid it.

Programming an emergency medical ID into your phone, with conditions, medications and emergency contacts, gives responders key information even if you cannot speak.

After a Heart Attack

Survival is the first goal, and recovery is the second. The NHLBI describes treatment that may include medicines, procedures to open blocked arteries and lifestyle changes. Most patients leave the hospital with new prescriptions and follow-up appointments, and many are referred to cardiac rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program that combines exercise training, education on heart-healthy living and counseling to reduce stress. The CDC and AHA both describe it as an important part of recovery, and the AHA notes that it can help lower the risk of a future heart problem. Ask the care team for a referral if one is not offered.

For the household, recovery is also a good time to update preparedness plans. Refresh the medication list after every change, keep any newly prescribed nitroglycerin where the person can reach it and make sure at least one other adult in the home knows CPR. People recovering from a heart attack are at higher risk of another, so everyone in the home should know the warning signs and agree that calling 911 quickly is always the right choice.

Quick Reference

Situation	What to do
Chest pressure, pain or fullness lasting more than a few minutes	Call 911 now
Arm, back, neck, jaw or stomach discomfort with shortness of breath, sweating or nausea	Call 911 now
Person collapses, unresponsive, not breathing normally	Call 911, start CPR, get an AED
Aspirin questions	Follow the 911 dispatcher’s advice
Prescribed nitroglycerin	Help the person take it as directed

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do heart attack symptoms last?

Chest discomfort from a heart attack typically lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back, according to the AHA. Do not wait for symptoms to stop before calling 911.

Can a heart attack feel like heartburn?

Yes. Discomfort in the upper stomach area, nausea and a feeling of indigestion can be heart attack symptoms. If you are not sure, the safest choice is to call 911.

Should I take aspirin during a heart attack?

Only if a 911 dispatcher or doctor advises it and you are not allergic and have no reason to avoid it. Aspirin is not safe for everyone.

Are women's heart attack symptoms different?

Chest discomfort is the most common symptom for both sexes, the AHA says. Women are somewhat more likely to also have shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

What is the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?

A heart attack is a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating effectively. A heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest, which needs CPR and an AED right away.

The Bottom Line

Heart attack warning signs include chest discomfort, discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea and lightheadedness, and women more often have the less obvious ones. Call 911 within minutes, rest, follow the dispatcher’s advice on aspirin, and be ready to start CPR and use an AED if the person collapses. Keep a medication sheet, plan building access for paramedics and take a CPR class so your household is ready.