What This Awareness Quiz Can Teach You
Know the warning signs without a symptom score
Chest pain or discomfort is the most common heart attack symptom in women as well as men. Other signs can include shortness of breath, nausea, a cold sweat, or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, or jaw. The American Heart Association’s guidance for women explains these warning signs and advises immediate emergency action.
An educational result cannot make a care decision
The score is one point per correct knowledge answer, from zero to six. There are no low-risk or high-risk bands. An ECG and blood tests can be part of medical assessment, as described by the NHS. This website cannot perform that assessment.
The questions and explanations below are based on those two public guidance pages, checked on September 17, 2026. This is an independently written educational exercise, not a validated screening instrument or a clinician-reviewed assessment.
Answers and explanations
Spoilers below. Open a question to read the answer, even without completing the quiz.
1. According to the American Heart Association, what is the most common heart attack symptom in women?
Answer: Chest pain or discomfort
Chest pain or discomfort is the most common symptom in women as well as men. Other warning signs can also occur.
American Heart Association: symptoms in women2. Can shortness of breath be a heart attack warning sign without chest discomfort?
Answer: Yes
The AHA lists shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort among the warning signs.
American Heart Association: warning signs3. What should someone do if they think they may be having a heart attack?
Answer: Contact local emergency services immediately
A suspected heart attack needs emergency care. Do not wait for a questionnaire result.
NHS: emergency action4. Should someone drive themselves to hospital with a suspected heart attack?
Answer: No; contact emergency services and follow their instructions
NHS guidance says not to drive yourself to emergency care. The emergency call handler can give instructions.
NHS: getting emergency help5. Which tests can be part of checking for a heart attack?
Answer: An ECG and blood tests
Medical assessment includes tests such as an ECG and blood tests. A website score cannot replace them.
NHS: how a heart attack is diagnosed6. What does AHA guidance say about chest discomfort that goes away and comes back?
Answer: It can be a heart attack warning sign
The AHA describes chest discomfort that lasts or goes away and returns as a warning sign. Do not use temporary improvement to dismiss it.
American Heart Association: chest discomfort