This can be particularly confusing because the symptoms may occur without dramatic chest pain.
The discomfort may feel like:
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Indigestion
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Burning
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Fullness
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Pressure
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Nausea
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An uncomfortable sensation in the upper abdomen
This is one reason heart-related symptoms are sometimes mistaken for a stomach problem.
However, it is important not to interpret every episode of indigestion as a cardiac emergency.
Acid reflux, gastritis, food poisoning, gallbladder problems, and other digestive disorders are far more common explanations for many stomach symptoms.
The warning signs become more concerning when digestive symptoms happen together with shortness of breath, sweating, weakness, dizziness, pressure in the chest, or pain in the jaw, arm, back, or shoulder.
In that situation, getting urgent medical help is safer than assuming you simply have indigestion.
4. Pain or Discomfort in the Jaw, Back, Shoulder, or Arm
Heart-related discomfort does not always stay in the center of the chest.
It can sometimes spread to other parts of the upper body.
Pain or pressure may be felt in one or both arms, the shoulders, upper back, neck, or jaw.
The sensation can vary considerably.
Some people describe pressure or heaviness.
Others describe aching, squeezing, tightness, or an unusual uncomfortable sensation.
It may even feel like a muscle problem.
That creates another opportunity for misinterpretation.
You might assume you slept in a strange position or lifted something too heavy.
Again, context matters.
An isolated sore shoulder after exercise is very different from sudden shoulder or jaw discomfort accompanied by sweating and shortness of breath.
Heart-related symptoms can also be more difficult to recognize in older adults and in people with diabetes because symptoms may be less typical.
The safest approach is not to diagnose the cause yourself.
When unusual upper-body discomfort occurs suddenly or is accompanied by other warning signs, take it seriously.
5. Dizziness, Lightheadedness, or Fainting
Feeling dizzy occasionally can happen for many reasons.
Standing up too quickly, dehydration, low blood pressure, inner-ear problems, medications, low blood sugar, and anxiety are among the possibilities.
But dizziness can also occur when the heart is not maintaining adequate blood flow to the brain.
Certain abnormal heart rhythms, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular problems can produce lightheadedness or fainting.
Fainting is particularly important.
A person who suddenly loses consciousness should not simply assume it was caused by heat or exhaustion, especially if there was no obvious explanation.
The situation is even more concerning when fainting occurs during physical activity or alongside chest discomfort, palpitations, breathlessness, or a family history of sudden cardiac death.
A single episode of dizziness may be harmless.
But sudden, recurrent, or unexplained episodes deserve evaluation.