In a heart attack, it's not the best hospital that decides the outcome – it's the time until someone calls for help. And that's exactly where precious time gets lost: because people don't recognize the signs, write them off as heartburn or a pulled muscle, or don't want to “be a bother.” Women in particular often have less typical symptoms. This article has one single goal: that you know the signs – and call 112 without hesitating when it counts.
Key takeaways
- The main symptom is intense pressure or tightness in the chest, often spreading to the arm, back, neck or jaw – lasting more than five minutes.
- In women, “atypical” signs are more often in the foreground: shortness of breath, nausea, upper abdominal pain, unusual exhaustion.
- Accompanying signs such as cold sweats, a sense of impending doom and pale skin make it even more urgent.
- If you suspect a heart attack, the rule has no exceptions: call 112 immediately – don't drive yourself, don't wait, don't call your doctor's office first.
- The risk can be lowered: blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and exercise are the big levers.
Call 112 immediately if one or more of these signs appear and last longer than about five minutes:
- Intense pressure, burning or tightness in the chest – at rest or with the slightest exertion
- Pain spreading to the arm(s), back, neck, jaw or upper abdomen
- Sudden shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea or vomiting
- Unusually severe weakness, pale skin, a sense of impending doom
- Loss of consciousness – in that case, also start CPR right away
Better to call once too often than once too late – that's exactly what 112 is for:
Call 112 (emergency)The typical warning signs
The classic picture: a severe, persistent pressure or tightness behind the breastbone – “like an elephant sitting on my chest.” The pain can spread to the left (less often the right) arm, between the shoulder blades, or to the neck, jaw or upper abdomen. Unlike a pulled muscle or heartburn, it doesn't change with movement, posture or burping, and it lasts longer than five minutes. Cold sweats, shortness of breath and an overwhelming sense of fear often come with it.
Why women are affected differently
In women, a heart attack more often comes without the classic crushing pain. Instead, the main symptoms are shortness of breath, pronounced nausea or vomiting, pain in the upper abdomen or back, trouble sleeping, and an unusual, leaden exhaustion – sometimes starting days earlier. It's precisely this vagueness that leads women, on average, to call for help later and get treated later. So the rule is simple: new, unexplained symptoms above the waistline plus feeling unwell – when in doubt, call 112.
Also important: A heart attack can be “silent,” especially in people with diabetes, when the nerves' sense of pain is impaired. That's why an unexplained drop in stamina or new shortness of breath on exertion should be checked soon, even without pain.
