7 early signs of a heart attack most people ignore

The quiet warning signs

A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked. The body often sends signals hours or even days before. Learning to recognise them can save a life — your own or a parent's.

• Pressure, tightness or heaviness in the centre of the chest
• Pain spreading to the left arm, jaw, neck or back
• Shortness of breath, even at rest
• Cold sweats, nausea or vomiting
• Unusual tiredness that comes on suddenly
• Light-headedness or feeling faint
• A feeling of 'ghabrahat' or that something is badly wrong

Why women and diabetics are often missed

Diabetes can damage the nerves that carry pain signals, so a diabetic patient may feel very little chest pain during a heart attack. Women are more likely to describe breathlessness, indigestion-like discomfort, back pain or extreme fatigue.

In many Pakistani households these symptoms are treated at home with a digestive tablet or rest. That delay matters — every minute without blood flow damages more heart muscle.

What to do in the first ten minutes

Call 1122 or go to the nearest hospital with an emergency department straight away. Do not wait to see if the pain settles, and do not drive yourself.

If a doctor has previously advised it and there is no allergy, chewing a regular aspirin can help while help is on the way. Keep the patient seated, loosen tight clothing and keep them calm.

After the scare: getting checked

If you have had warning signs that settled, you still need a proper check. An ECG, a troponin blood test and an echocardiogram can show whether the heart has been under strain. A cardiologist can then advise whether further tests such as a stress test or angiography are needed.

Dil Ka Doctor can arrange an ECG at home within hours in major cities, reported by a cardiologist, and connect you to a specialist by video the same day.