Here’s something that surprises a lot of people: you can be having a heart attack and feel zero chest pain. None. The heart attack is still happening, still dangerous, just without the ‘Hollywood’ warning sign everyone expects.
According to Mayo Clinic, pain or discomfort during a heart attack can spread to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth, or even the upper belly. Some people have upper body pain with no chest pain at all. That means someone could be clutching their jaw thinking they have a toothache — and actually be in the middle of a cardiac emergency.
Women especially need to know this. Mayo Clinic notes that women are more likely than men to experience neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back, or upper stomach pain during a heart attack instead of classic chest pain. Duke Health adds that women are also more likely to feel extreme fatigue, sweating, nausea, and indigestion that can easily be mistaken for the flu or heartburn.
It’s also important to know that atypical symptoms — ones that aren’t classic chest pain — can affect anyone, not just women. If you’re a young guy and you suddenly feel crushing fatigue, jaw tightness, nausea, or shortness of breath for no clear reason, don’t assume it can’t be your heart.
The danger is obvious: if you don’t recognize the signs, you wait. And waiting during a heart attack costs you. So what do you actually do? If you or someone around you suddenly feels extreme unexplained fatigue, jaw or neck pain, nausea, or shortness of breath — especially together — don’t shrug it off and don’t wait to see if it gets better. Call 911. It might feel embarrassing if it turns out to be nothing. It will feel a lot worse if it isn’t.
The single most important thing to remember: heart attacks don’t always look like what you’ve seen on TV, especially in women. Jaw pain, nausea, and feeling wiped out for no reason are real warning signs — take them seriously.