What are the early warning signs of a heart attack?

The most common sign is chest discomfort: pressure, tightness, squeezing, or pain in the centre or left side of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes. It often spreads to an arm, the shoulder, neck, jaw, or back. Other warning signs include shortness of breath, breaking into a cold sweat, nausea, light-headedness, and unusual fatigue. Symptoms can be milder or different in women, older people, and those with diabetes, sometimes feeling like indigestion or extreme tiredness. If you suspect a heart attack, call emergency services immediately rather than waiting, because fast treatment saves heart muscle and lives. Do not try to drive yourself to hospital.