Heart Attack Symptoms: What Does a Heart Attack Feel Like?

Heart Attack Symptom: Shortness of Breath

The Symptom:
Shortness of breath

Real-Life Story:
Harry Schmidt had his heart attack in May 2008. "I had a full physical the year before, and at that time had nothing out of the ordinary other than that my weight was a bit high," he says. "But my blood pressure was normal, and I'd never had any symptoms. I exercised a lot-I walked, I rode my bike, and I golfed."

Last April, Harry and his family stopped in Smoky Mountains National Park to climb a mountain. "That would have been my first indication," he said. "'We started walking up this mountain and after 100 yards I got short of breath, which I usually don't do."

He now knows that he should have stopped and seen his physician. A month later, he had a heart attack.

Doctor's Notes:
Curtis Rimmerman, M.D., says that the shortness of breath Harry experienced could have been related to heart muscle dysfunction from a lack of oxygen. "The heart's inability to adequately pump the blood in a forward manner can cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs," Rimmerman says. "So that could cause superimposed congestive heart failure during a heart attack."

What You Can Do:
Recognize if you're in a situation where you normally wouldn't be short of breath. Visit the emergency room immediately.