The symptoms of a heart attack can vary from person to person. Some people can have few symptoms and are surprised to learn they've had a heart attack. If you've already had a heart attack, your symptoms may differ during another heart attack. It is important for you to know the most common symptoms of a heart attack and also remember these facts:

•           Heart attacks can start slowly and cause only mild pain or discomfort. Symptoms can be mild or more intense and sudden. Symptoms also may come and go over several hours.

•           People who have high blood sugar (diabetes) may have no symptoms or very mild ones.

•           The most common symptom, in both men and women, is chest pain or discomfort.

•           Women are somewhat more likely to have shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, unusual tiredness (sometimes for days), and pain in the back, shoulders, and jaw.

Some people don't have symptoms at all. Heart attacks that occur without any symptoms or with very mild symptoms are called silent heart attacks.

Most common symptoms:

The most common warning symptoms of a heart attack for both men and women are:

•           Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest. The discomfort usually lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. It can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It also can feel like heartburn or indigestion. The feeling can be mild or severe.

•           Upper body discomfort. You may feel pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach (above the belly button).

•           Shortness of breath. This may be your only symptom, or it may occur before or along with chest pain or discomfort. It can occur when you are resting or doing some physical activity.

The symptoms of angina can be similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. Angina is chest pain that occurs in people who have ischemic heart disease, usually when they're active. Angina pain typically lasts for only a few minutes and goes away with rest.

Chest pain or discomfort that doesn't go away or changes from its usual pattern (for example, occurs more often or while you're resting) can be a sign of a heart attack.

All chest pain should be checked by a doctor.

Other common signs and symptoms:

Pay attention to these other possible symptoms of a heart attack:

•           Breaking out in a cold sweat;

•           Feeling exhausted for no reason, sometimes for days (especially if you are a woman);

•           Nausea (feeling sick to the stomach) and vomiting;

•           Light-headedness or sudden dizziness;

•           Any sudden, new symptoms or a change in the pattern of symptoms you already have (for example, if your symptoms become stronger or last longer than usual).

Not everyone having a heart attack has typical symptoms. If you've already had a heart attack, your symptoms may differ for another one. However, some people may have a pattern of symptoms that recur.

The more signs and symptoms you have, the more likely it is that you're having a heart attack.

Complications:

Some people experience complications after a heart attack. Depending on how severe the event was, these may include:

•           Depression: This is common after a heart attack, and engaging with loved ones and support groups can help.

•           Arrhythmia: The heart beats irregularly, either too fast or too slowly.

•           Edema: Fluid accumulates and causes swelling in the ankles and legs.

•           Aneurysm: Scar tissue builds up on the damaged heart wall, which causes thinning and stretching of the heart muscle, eventually forming a sac. This can also lead to blood clots.

•           Angina: Insufficient oxygen reaches the heart, causing chest pain.

•           Heart failure: The heart can no longer pump effectively, leading to fatigue, difficulty breathing, and edema.

•           Myocardial rupture: This is a tear in a part of the heart, due to damage caused by a heart attack.

Ongoing treatment and monitoring can help reduce the risk of these complications.