Heart attacks are the most feared cardiovascular complication and a prevalent cause of mortality around the world. They rank number one as the cause of death in adults, and it is a life-threatening condition that may happen to anyone if they meet only a few risk factors.

The clinical name of a heart attack is myocardial infarction. Myocardial refers to the myocardium, the muscular tissue surrounding the heart. Infarction refers to a cut in the blood supply of a tissue with cell death due to not receiving any oxygen.

In this article, you will find the most important signs and symptoms you should consider if you suspect a heart attack. This will help you detect this dangerous heart condition in yourself and others to find medical help as soon as possible.

1) Chest Pain

This is the most important and the most common symptom of a heart attack. The heart is located in the middle of the thorax and is slightly positioned to the left portion of the body.

Chest pain in heart attacks is described as a sudden and very severe symptom that feels like pressure in the center of the thorax.

The symptom will sometimes stop after a few minutes and is not sustained for extended periods. It can be severe enough to wake you up in the middle of the night, but some patients feel discomfort instead of outright chest pain.