How do you tell if you are having a heart attack? Although some of the symptoms of an impending heart attack may mock other ailments there are some sure signs that the individual should seek medical attention as soon as possible. One of the obvious signs of a heart attack is experiencing chest pain. Although this varies with each person, almost everyone has some degree of pain of this sort. A dull throbbing pain is one that many patients complain of. Another type of chest pain that is common is a feeling of a great heaviness in the chest. Women that are having a heart attack may not always experience chest pain. They may have more pain in the back then the chest.

Another common system of heart attack is pain in the left jaw. This symptom may or may not be experienced during a heart attack. Men also tend to have this symptom more then women, although the reasons for this are unknown. Jaw pain that is experienced during a heart attack may be blamed on other conditions, making the person unaware that they are having a heart attack.

Becoming short of breath is one of the symptoms of a heart attack and this symptom seems common in men as well as women. It is usually accompanied by the feeling of heaviness in the chest area. Profuse perspiration is very common at the onset of a heart attack. This may be one of the leading symptoms as it seems to appear in almost every case of heart attack.

Nausea and vomiting are very common during a heart attack. Stomach upset and a feeling of severe indigestion can often be symptoms that many heart attack victims state they feel. In many cases people think they are merely suffering from a bad case of indigestion when they are really suffering from a heart attack. The opposite is also true. Many people that suffer from indigestion are under the impression they are having a heart attack.

Confusion can also be a symptom of a heart attack. Because the brain is usually not receiving an adequate amount of oxygen during a true episode of a heart attack, the person may become disoriented. If this symptom is combined with any of the above stated symptoms emergency help should be contacted.

A person that has a greater chance of having a heart attack may also have signs of poor circulation. These symptoms can show up as bluish tinted lips, hands or feet. Poor circulation may be a sign of other serious illnesses also, but can be a great indicator that the person needs to see a physician or Cardiologist as soon as possible.