Meta Description: Discover the full spectrum of heart attack symptoms, from subtle early warnings to critical signs. Learn gender-specific differences, life-saving actions, and expert-backed prevention strategies.    Introduction  Heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally, with heart attacks responsible for 1 in 5 fatalities. Yet, studies show that 50% of heart attack deaths occur before reaching the hospital, often due to delayed recognition of symptoms. This guide dives deep into heart attack physiology, symptom nuances, and actionable steps to improve outcomes—backed by the latest 2023 medical research and SEO-optimized for rapid visibility.   1. The Science Behind a Heart Attack  A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, usually by a plaque rupture in a coronary artery. Without oxygen, heart cells begin to die within 20–30 minutes.  ...