Medically Verified By: Dr Diwakar Kumar
Heart attacks are often shown in movies as a dramatic scene a person suddenly clutches their chest, gasps for breath, and collapses. While this can happen, real-life heart attacks are usually far quieter, confusing, and easy to miss. Many people do not even realise they are having one until serious damage has already occurred.
According to Dr Diwakar Kumar, Consultant Cardiology Unit-II, Asian Hospital, nearly 40 per cent of heart attack patients show atypical symptoms, especially women and older adults. These symptoms do not always look like chest pain. Instead, they appear as jaw pain, arm heaviness, extreme fatigue, flu-like discomfort, or even confusion.
"We have known heart attack signs as someone holding their chest tightly or sudden collapse. However, unlike movies, heart attacks in real life are very different. They do not always present as pain in the chest. Rather, they often come in subtle ways that are easy to miss," says Dr Kumar.
Because of this, many patients delay going to the hospital. Some ignore the pain. Others think it is acidity, stress, muscle strain, or just tiredness. Unfortunately, every minute matters during a heart attack. The longer the heart muscle is starved of oxygen, the more permanent damage occurs.
This article explains what atypical heart attack symptoms look like, who is at higher risk, why people miss the warning signs, and how listening to your body can save your life or the life of someone you love.
A heart attack happens when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. This usually occurs because of a clot forming in a narrowed artery. Without oxygen, the heart muscle starts to die. When this happens, the body sends distress signals through nerves. But these signals are not always clear. Instead of sharp chest pain, the nerves may send pain to other parts of the body.
"When the heart muscle is starved of oxygen, the nerves become confused and send signals all over the body," explains Dr Diwakar Kumar.
This confusion is why someone may feel pain in the jaw instead of the chest, heaviness in the arm instead of tightness, or extreme fatigue instead of breathlessness. Many patients think, "This can't be my heart," and delay treatment. The problem is simple: people look for chest pain only, and heart attacks do not always follow the textbook pattern.
Nearly 40 per cent of heart attack patients experience atypical symptoms, particularly women and elderly people. These symptoms may feel mild at first, but they are dangerous if ignored. Some common atypical signs include:
"Sometimes patients may not suffer from chest pain. They may have jaw pain that feels like a toothache, heaviness in the left arm, flu or severe fatigue," says Dr Kumar. Many patients visit dentists for jaw pain, orthopaedic doctors for arm pain, or take cold medicines for flu-like symptoms, while the real problem is the heart. This delay can be deadly.
Heart disease is still wrongly seen as a "man's problem." Because of this, women's heart attack symptoms are often misunderstood or dismissed. Women are more likely to experience:
"In case of women, doctors often dismiss a heart attack as anxiety, reflux or stress," explains Dr Diwakar Kumar. Many women themselves also downplay symptoms. They keep working, managing homes, caring for family, and ignoring their own discomfort. They may think, "It's just gas," or "I am tired." But heart attacks in women are often silent and slow, not dramatic. By the time they reach the hospital, damage may already be severe. This is why awareness is crucial. A woman feeling unusual pain between the belly button and jaw should never ignore it.
People over 70 are at higher risk of heart disease, but they also experience pain differently. "In the elderly, the way they feel pain changes. A heart attack may look like a fall, a fainting spell, confusion or arm pain," says Dr Kumar. Instead of chest pain, elderly patients may show:
Sometimes families think it is ageing, dehydration, or blood pressure changes. But it could be the heart crying for help. Dr Kumar stresses that emergency room staff must take every complaint seriously in women and older adults to avoid misdiagnosis.
Not all heart attacks come with loud warning bells. Some are called silent heart attacks because the symptoms are so mild or unusual that people fail to recognise them. These attacks still damage the heart, but because patients do not seek help early, treatment is delayed.
Dr Diwakar Kumar explains that many patients remember feeling "off" days before a major attack. They may feel unusually tired, breathless while doing normal activities, or develop discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, or arms. Because the pain is not sharp, they ignore it.
A person may think, "I just need rest," or "It's because of work stress." But the heart is already struggling for oxygen. The danger is that silent attacks weaken the heart slowly and can later lead to heart failure, rhythm problems, or sudden collapse.
This is why any new, unexplained change in the body should be respected, especially in people with diabetes, high BP, obesity, smoking habits, or family history of heart disease.
Our body sends warnings before disaster happens. The problem is that many people do not listen. "Listen to your body's warning signals. Ignoring pain can be dangerous. Sudden unexplained pain can be a sign of a heart attack," says Dr Diwakar Kumar.
If pain appears suddenly without injury, infection, or clear reason, it should not be ignored. Especially if the pain lies anywhere from the belly button to the jaw, it may be heart-related. Dr Kumar advises people to treat unexplained pain seriously:
"If you have pain anywhere in the body from the belly button to the jaw or if you are sweating for no reason and you have risk factors for heart disease, then the pain may be a heart attack until a cardiologist confirms it is not." This simple mindset can save lives.
Certain people are more likely to get heart attacks. If you have these risk factors, you must be extra alert:
If someone with these risk factors experiences jaw pain, arm discomfort, sweating, or fatigue, they should not wait. Many patients say later, "I felt something was wrong, but I ignored it." Your instincts are often correct.
People with diabetes face a double risk. First, they are more likely to develop heart disease. Second, their nerve sensation is reduced, so they may not feel typical pain. Many diabetic patients do not experience strong chest pain during a heart attack. Instead, they may notice sweating, nausea, weakness, breathlessness, or sudden exhaustion.
Dr Kumar warns that diabetics should never ignore these signals. Even mild symptoms in a diabetic person should be treated as a possible cardiac emergency until proven otherwise.
Overconsumption of certain dry fruits like apricot and prunes which are loaded in potassium can increase the potassium level in body, flutes, thereby causing diabetes mellitus, arrhythmia, renal insufficiencies and other chronic diseases. According to Mayo Clinic, a healthy blood potassium level in human body should be between 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per litre.
Despite symptoms, many people delay treatment because:
Unfortunately, heart attacks do not wait. Every minute of delay kills more heart muscle.
In today's fast-paced life, people are constantly tired. Because of this, they confuse heart symptoms with normal exhaustion. Office workers, caregivers, and professionals often push through discomfort. Many say, "I can't go to the hospital now, I have work," or "Let me finish this and rest later." Sadly, the heart does not follow schedules.
Dr Kumar points out that chronic stress increases blood pressure and inflammation, raising heart attack risk. When stress mixes with poor sleep, unhealthy food, and lack of exercise, the heart becomes vulnerable. Listening to your body is not a weakness. It is intelligence. Taking a break for health today prevents permanent damage tomorrow.
Sometimes patients do reach the hospital but leave with a diagnosis that does not feel right. "Doctors urge you should not settle for a diagnosis that does not align with the story your body is trying to tell you," says Dr Kumar. Many people are told it is gas, anxiety, or muscle pain and go home, still uncomfortable. Later, they return with a full heart attack. Dr Kumar advises patients to ask questions:
"It is your duty to ask for lab tests and screenings, screenings as these help to zero down the cause behind the pain. The root cause of the pain often hides behind a diagnosis. Keep pushing until the diagnosis fits what your body says," he explains. This is especially important for elderly parents and women who may not speak up for themselves.
Go to the emergency department immediately if you notice:
Do not wait for the pain to become severe. Heart attacks often start mild and grow dangerous quickly. "Always remember, do not leave a hospital until the diagnosis matches the signals your body has been giving you or for that matter for elderly in your home," says Dr Kumar. Your life, or your mother's life, may depend on that decision.
Cardiologists often see patients who say:
By the time they arrive, heart damage has already started. These are not rare cases. They happen daily in hospitals. That is why awareness is powerful medicine.
While recognising symptoms is important, prevention is equally crucial. Simple habits protect your heart:
If you already have risk factors, see a cardiologist regularly even if you feel fine. Heart disease often grows silently before striking loudly.
Heart attacks do not only happen to "others." They happen at home, in offices, on roads, and during sleep. Teach your family:
The more people know, the faster they act. A few minutes of awareness can add years of life.
Dr Diwakar Kumar leaves people with one important thought: "You need to look beyond the common symptom of chest pain for a heart attack. Your life or your mother's life could be at risk." Heart attacks do not always announce themselves loudly. Sometimes they whisper through jaw pain, arm heaviness, sweating, or fatigue. If something feels wrong, trust your body.
Do not ignore it. Do not delay it. Do not explain it away. Because listening early can save a heart and a life.
Disclaimer: Dear readers, this article provides general information and advice only. It is not at all professional medical advice. Therefore, always consult your doctor or a healthcare specialist for more information. TheHealthSite.com does not claim responsibility for this information.
