Dr. Aoife Murphy
In personOnlineIMC verified
Heart attack
People often use "heart attack" for severe chest pressure, sweating, breathlessness or collapse. These symptoms can be life-threatening and need emergency care because only urgent assessment can confirm the cause.
When to get emergency care
Get emergency help immediately if you have any of these:
- Severe chest pressure, squeezing, heaviness or burning that lasts more than a few minutes.
- Pain or discomfort spreading to the arm, shoulder, jaw, neck, back or upper belly.
- Sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, fainting or a feeling of doom with chest discomfort.
- Sudden collapse, severe weakness, blue lips or abnormal breathing.
- Any of these symptoms in someone with diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking history or previous heart disease.
Get emergency help or call 112
Common causes
- Reduced blood flow to the heart, which needs urgent medical assessment.
- High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and high cholesterol increasing heart risk.
- Family history of early heart disease.
- Less dangerous problems can mimic these symptoms, but emergency assessment is still needed.
What to expect at your consultation
- Emergency teams may check heart rhythm, oxygen level, blood pressure and symptoms immediately.
- ECG and blood tests are commonly used to look for signs of heart strain or injury.
- Treatment decisions are time-sensitive and depend on test results and clinical assessment.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I do if I suspect a heart attack?
- Seek emergency care immediately, especially with chest pressure, sweating, breathlessness, nausea or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back.
- Can heart attack symptoms be mild?
- Yes. Some people, including people with diabetes and older adults, may have mild chest discomfort, breathlessness, nausea or unusual weakness.
- Can young people have heart-related chest pain?
- Yes, serious causes are less common in young people but still possible. Red-flag symptoms need urgent care at any age.
- Can acidity look like a heart attack?
- It can feel similar. Emergency assessment is needed when symptoms are severe, new, spreading or linked with sweating or breathlessness.
Not sure how urgent this is?
Answer a few questions and we will tell you how soon to be seen.
Check my symptomsWhich doctor should I see?
- Cardiologist A cardiologist assesses possible heart blood-flow problems and ongoing heart risk.
- General Physician Can help with risk factors and follow-up after emergency assessment.
Not sure? See a general physician
Related doctors
Verified profiles for heart attack start with cardiologist.
Not sure which doctor fits? See a general physician