Sometimes a coronary artery contracts in a spasm. This can also narrow the artery, prevent blood flow to part of the heart, and cause a heart attack. During a heart attack, you may experience angina which is not relieved with rest or nitroglycerin. The pain may be intense. It may feel like a tight band or as if an elephant is sitting on your chest.
Some people experience the pain as a squeezing, burning, crushing, or choking sensation.
For others, a heart attack feels like intense indigestion. The pain may spread to your shoulders, neck, arms, back, abdomen, teeth or jaw. You may feel weak, lightheaded, or short of breath. You may faint. You may feel nauseated, and may vomit.