Final answer:
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack typically include chest pain or discomfort, chest pressure, lightheadedness, nausea, shortness of breath, and potential pain in the arms, neck, jaw, or back. Symptoms can be different between genders, and certain symptoms may occur without chest pain, which can lead to misdiagnosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack may include various manifestations, but the most common include chest pain or discomfort, lightheadedness, nausea, and pain or discomfort in areas like the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
This chest pain is known as angina pectoris, which occurs when the heart muscle does not receive sufficient blood and oxygen. Other symptoms can include shortness of breath, which may be accompanied by sweating, irregular heartbeat, or faintness.
Notably, symptoms can manifest differently between males and females. In some cases, symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, nausea, and sweating can present without chest pain, making it difficult to recognize and leading to misdiagnosis, especially in women.
It's important to recognize these signs and understand that they can be indicative of serious underlying conditions such as coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), and other cardiovascular diseases that can lead to heart attacks.