After you’ve survived one cardiac crisis, every ache in your chest becomes a question: is this something, or is this nothing? I lived with that question for a long time. What finally settled some of that fear wasn’t ignoring my body — it was learning, specifically and clearly, what actually needed urgent attention versus what didn’t.
This is general information, not a diagnosis of anything you’re feeling right now. If you’re ever unsure, treat it as urgent and get checked — being wrong in the direction of caution costs you an unnecessary trip; being wrong the other way can cost far more.
Signs of a Heart Attack
The classic signs include:
- Chest pain, pressure, squeezing, or fullness that lasts more than a few minutes, or comes and goes
- Pain or discomfort spreading to one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
- Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness
It’s important to know that symptoms aren’t always the dramatic, clutch-your-chest moment shown in movies. Some people, particularly women, are more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea, back or jaw pain, or fatigue without prominent chest pain at all.
If you or someone near you experiences these signs, call 911 immediately. Don’t drive yourself, don’t wait to see if it passes, and don’t call a friend or family member before you call emergency services — every minute matters for how much heart muscle can be saved.
Signs Your Heart Failure May Be Getting Worse
These are different from a heart attack, and they tend to build up over days rather than strike suddenly:
- Sudden weight gain (for example, 2–3 pounds in a day, or 5 pounds in a week) — often a sign of fluid retention
- Increasing swelling in your legs, ankles, or abdomen
- Shortness of breath that’s worse than usual, especially when lying flat or during light activity
- A persistent cough or wheezing, sometimes with white or pink-tinged mucus
- Unusual fatigue or difficulty with activities that were manageable a few days before
These symptoms usually mean it’s time to call your cardiology team the same day, not wait for your next scheduled appointment. Ask your doctor in advance exactly which numbers or symptoms should trigger a same-day call for you specifically — mine gave me clear thresholds, and having them in writing removed a lot of the guesswork during a scary moment.
When It’s 911, Not a Phone Call to the Doctor
Call 911 rather than your doctor’s office if you experience:
- Chest pain that doesn’t go away
- Severe shortness of breath, especially at rest
- Fainting or near-fainting
- A rapid or irregular heartbeat with dizziness or chest discomfort
Keep This Information Where You Can Find It Fast
I keep a small card in my wallet and a note saved on my phone listing my diagnosis, medications, and my cardiologist’s contact information. In an emergency, you may not be able to speak clearly for yourself, and having this ready can save critical time for whoever is helping you.
Keep reading: Knowing the warning signs is one piece. For the everyday habits that go with them, read Living with Congestive Heart Failure.
Take the Next Step
Hope After Heart Failure: A Survivor's Guide for Recovery After Cardiac Crisis is a chapter-by-chapter companion for every dimension of cardiac recovery — from fear and fatigue to relationships, identity, medications, cognitive fog, and finding purpose again.
Visit hopeafterheartfailure.com to learn more.
Additional Resources for Heart Failure Survivors
- American Heart Association — heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure
- Mended Hearts (peer support) — mendedhearts.org
- Heart Failure Society of America — hfsa.org
- CardioSmart (ACC) — cardiosmart.org
Greg R. Traver is a heart failure survivor, author, and advocate. After surviving three “widow maker” heart attacks and two cardiac crises, he wrote Hope After Heart Failure — the book he wished he’d had when his own recovery began. He shares ongoing encouragement and resources at hopeafterheartfailure.com.