As a medical professional, I can tell you that while some heart attacks do occur suddenly, others can indeed have symptoms that develop over a period of hours, days, or even weeks. The key to recognizing a potential heart attack is to be aware of the signs and symptoms, which can include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, or pain radiating to the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. It's important to note that not everyone experiences the same symptoms, and some people may have mild or atypical symptoms. The red-flag symptom to watch for is recurrent chest pain (angina) that occurs with exertion and goes away with rest, as this can be an early warning sign of a heart attack. It's also crucial to remember that a heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest, but it is not the sole cause of it. read more >>

Some heart attacks strike suddenly, but many people have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance. The earliest warning may be recurrent chest pain (angina) that's triggered by exertion and relieved by rest. ... A heart attack can cause cardiac arrest, but it's not the only cause.read more >>