Not just chest pain. AIIMS cardiologist lists surprising heart attack symptoms. Some get mistaken for acidity

Heart attacks don’t always hit like a dramatic movie scene. While many imagine sudden, crushing chest pain, real-life symptoms can be subtler—especially in women and the elderly. From chest heaviness and burning sensations to a choking feeling, discomfort can appear in the centre or left side of the chest and even radiate to the neck, left arm, or upper abdomen. Sweating and nausea often accompany it, which patients sometimes mistake for acidity or gas, and doctors occasionally miss.

According to AIIMS cardiologists, the primary cause of a heart attack is a sudden blockage in the heart’s arteries, usually from a blood clot forming over fatty deposits. Risk factors like tobacco use, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, family history, poor diet, inactivity, and stress raise the likelihood—but one in five heart attacks can occur without any of these warning signs. Early recognition and awareness are crucial to prevent life-threatening complications.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, heart attack symptoms can vary widely. Many people feel chest pain or discomfort—squeezing, heaviness, or crushing pain—that may radiate to the left arm, shoulders, neck, jaw, back, or waist. Others experience shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or palpitations and may mistake it for indigestion or heartburn. Women are less likely to have classic chest pain and often show fatigue, insomnia, shortness of breath, nausea, or pain in the back, shoulders, neck, arms, or abdomen. Anxiety, dizziness, or fainting can also occur.

Early recognition of heart attack

According to Dr Ambuj Roy, early recognition and swift action are crucial when it comes to heart attacks. If someone experiences symptoms suggestive of a heart attack, they should immediately contact emergency services. Once at a healthcare facility, an ECG should be performed within 10 minutes to confirm the diagnosis. As a first step, doctors typically administer immediate medications to help stabilise the heart and prevent further clotting. The patient is then transferred to a specialised facility where clot-busting treatments or procedures like angioplasty can quickly restore blood flow to the blocked artery.


Time is the single most critical factor in managing a heart attack. Treatment within the first hour—the “golden hour”—can significantly minimise heart damage and save lives. Delays of six to twelve hours, however, can cause irreversible harm. In heart emergencies, every minute truly counts.