Chest Pain
This one might seem obvious, but it would be negligent if we left this off the list. Chest pain is the most common warning sign that your heart is not working as it should. Different heart issues including a blocked artery or a heart attack accompany chest pain, tightness in the chest, or pressure in the chest (as if something is pressing on your chest). You might be surprised to learn that chest pain exhibits itself in multiple ways and no two people experience chest pain in the same way.
According to the director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute, Dr. Charles Chambers, “Everyone has a different word for that feeling…some people say it’s like an elephant is sitting on them. Other people say it’s like a pinching or burning.”
Although this sensation may only last for a few minutes, it is a sure sign that something is not right. Seek immediate medical assistance. If this pain lasts only a few seconds, it likely is not a heart attack but Dr. Chambers would suggest contacting 911 just to be safe.
