Those who have had a heart attack, what did it feel like?

Certainly we all would recognize sudden cardiac arrest or the searing chest pains of a totally blocked artery near the heart. But not all cardiac episodes are like that. In many cases, initial symptoms are subtle and might be dismissed as stress, heartburn or other normal discomfort. Women in particular often feel no chest pains at the onset of a cardiac episode.

When you are really having a heart attack, getting medical attention quickly can greatly lessen the damage or even save your life. So it would seem a worthwhile endeavor to catalog the personal experiences of those who have actually been through a heart attack.

If you have had one, or know the experience of someone else who has, please share what it felt like and when and how you knew something serious was wrong and you needed to get to the emergency room. Your experience just might save someone else’s life.