BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports someone in the United States has a heart attack every 40 seconds. Recognizing heart attacks and getting medical assistance right away is very important to reducing damage.

“Time is muscle,” said IU Health Bloomington Cardiologist Joan Crawford, DO. “If you even think you’re having a heart attack, present to the emergency room immediately.”

Some of the more common symptoms include chest pain, nausea, paleness, a hand involuntarily going over the chest (known as Levine’s sign), and an aching left arm.

Women are more likely to have more subtle, less widely known signs, including:

  • Fatigue
  • Pain or discomfort between their lower rib cage and belly button
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain where a bra strap would go, in the neck or in the right shoulder
  • Palpitations

“Shortness of breath, palpitations, exhaustion, napping more, not being able to do what you could do the previous season, just feeling out of sorts and maybe not being able to multitask are signs something could be wrong,” explained Dr. Crawford. “It’s not necessarily an eight out of 10 on a pain scale—it’s typically more subtle for women, like you just know something’s wrong.”

Prompt treatment can help restore blood flow, decrease the risk of permanent damage and improve survival rates, so call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for suspected heart attacks.

Dr. Crawford also encourages everyone to take steps to reduce their heart attack risk, including:

  • Exercising 150 minutes a week and walking outside in fresh air
  • Eating less than 40 fat grams a day, less than 2000 mg of sodium daily and rarely eating red meat or processed food
  • Eating 3 – 4 servings of fruits and vegetables daily
  • Sleeping 7 hours a night 
  • Addressing snoring or sleep apnea, nicotine use of any kind and alcohol overuse

Maintaining healthy relationships, taking time to reflect, nurturing yourself, having fun and surrounding yourself with like-minded people are also important for your health.

“We’re talking about life as a whole long odyssey,” Crawford shared. “You may have an occasional bad couple of months or maybe even a bad year, but I’m looking at your whole life. It’s many decades of trying to eat healthy, walk more, not drink too much and stop smoking.”

Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) about heart-healthy steps you can take. If you don’t have a PCP, please visit iuhealth.org/find-providers to search for a PCP by location, specialty, and profile.


About IU Health

Indiana University Health is dedicated to offering highly skilled, patient-centered care. Named among U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Hospitals as a High Performing hospital in four specialties, IU Health Medical Center is the only academic medical center in the state. The distinctive partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine – one of the nation’s leading medical schools – equips our highly-skilled physicians with access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology.