According to the American Heart Association, some cardiac-related symptoms are more frequent than others.

These may be:

• An uncomfortable feeling of pressure, constriction or sporadic pain in the center of the chest that lasts over 20 minutes.

• A pain radiating to the shoulder, the neck and the arms (particularly to the left arm).

• A feeling of uneasiness in the chest, coupled with faintness, dizziness, sweat, nausea and shortness of breath.

At times less common symptoms may occur:

• Non-specific chest, abdomen or stomach pain.

• Nausea and dizziness.

• Panting but no chest pain.

• Unprovoked anxiety, fatigue.

• Palpitations, cold sweat, suddenly turning pale. 

There is no general rule for the occurrence of symptoms: at times they are typical and violent, at others, more varied. A series of medical tests must be conducted to determine the presence of heart attack: laboratory findings, electrocardiogram, etc.