Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsChest PainHeavinessPalpitationsShortness of BreathBurningFatigueAtypical SymptomsWhy Symptoms Precede a Heart AttackRight Before a Heart Attack
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Chest Pain
Heaviness
Palpitations
Shortness of Breath
Burning
Fatigue
Atypical Symptoms
Why Symptoms Precede a Heart Attack
Right Before a Heart Attack
The symptoms that may occur in the month before aheart attack—known as prodromal symptoms—are similar to the symptoms that can occur during a heart attack. These include things like chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations.
There are other symptoms that are less typical, and each person’s experience is different. Some peopledon’t experience any symptomsat all.
This article discusses the six most commonheart attack symptomsin the month before a heart attack, as well as those that happen less frequently. It also addresses what often happens right before a heart attack occurs.
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1) Chest Pain
A 2023 cross-sectional study looked at 242 people who had experienced a heart attack. Of those 242 people, 100 experienced prodromal symptoms—minor symptoms before the onset of a more severe condition—in their case, a heart attack. In this study,chest painwas the most common symptom, with 68% of people experiencing it preceding their heart attack.
2) Chest Heaviness
The same study found that 44% of people who had prodromal symptoms described episodes of chest heaviness, tightness, or pressure, often associated with exertion. This is another common symptom affecting those who will go on to have a heart attack.
3) Heart Palpitations
The 2023 cross-sectional study also found that 42% of those with early heart attack symptoms hadheart palpitations.Heart palpitations occur when your heart is pumping too fast or too hard. It may even feel as if your heart is skipping a beat.
4) Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath(dyspnea) is often indicative of cardiovascular (heart) disease. You may struggle to catch your breath, whether walking or doing something physical, and sometimes even at rest, feeling as if your lungs can’t get enough air.
5) Chest Burning
A burning sensation in your chest is another potential sign of an impending heart attack. Chest burning due to heart diseasecan feel like heartburn (and vice versa).
Note the timing of your symptoms (e.g., after consuming a spicy meal that typically triggers heartburn) and any additional symptoms. If you experience any of the symptoms in this article or other abnormal symptoms, seek medical care.
6) Fatigue
You may feel extra tired from time to time, but feeling extremely fatigued may signify a more serious issue. If you experience persistent fatigue and can’t identify the underlying cause, follow up with a healthcare provider.
Heart Attack Symptoms: Females vs. MalesAlthoughfemalesandmalestypically—though not always—experience chest pain as a heart attack symptom, females are more likely to have other symptoms that you may associate with a heart attack. These symptoms include:DizzinessFatigueIndigestionNauseaIt’s also more common for females to dismiss these symptoms and attribute them to a less serious problem instead of seeking help. Yet that can delay lifesaving care.
Heart Attack Symptoms: Females vs. Males
Althoughfemalesandmalestypically—though not always—experience chest pain as a heart attack symptom, females are more likely to have other symptoms that you may associate with a heart attack. These symptoms include:DizzinessFatigueIndigestionNauseaIt’s also more common for females to dismiss these symptoms and attribute them to a less serious problem instead of seeking help. Yet that can delay lifesaving care.
Althoughfemalesandmalestypically—though not always—experience chest pain as a heart attack symptom, females are more likely to have other symptoms that you may associate with a heart attack. These symptoms include:
It’s also more common for females to dismiss these symptoms and attribute them to a less serious problem instead of seeking help. Yet that can delay lifesaving care.
Atypical Heart Attack Warning Symptoms
An increase in conditions such as obesity and high blood pressure contributes to a greater risk of heart attacks among young people.That’s why it’s important for adults of any age to be aware of heart attack warning symptoms.
In addition to the classic heart attack warning symptoms, some less common symptoms may occur in the month before a heart attack.
Dizziness
You may feel dizzy or lightheaded at times when you didn’t feel it previously. The dizziness may happen because of less blood flow to the brain associated with a blockage.Let a healthcare provider know if you’re feeling dizzy alongside other pre-heart attack symptoms.
Nausea
Stomach discomfort is yet another symptom that may occur in the weeks before a heart attack.You’ll want to keep an eye on this, especially if you can’t pinpoint another cause for the nausea.
Anxiety
Among patients with pre-heart attack symptoms, 23% experienced anxiety, according to one study.People with cardiovascular disease often have co-occurring anxiety, which can contribute to disease progression.
Sleep Disturbances
There can be many causes for not getting a good night’s rest, including extra stress or consuming caffeine too close to bedtime. However, sleep problems that occur without an apparent cause could be a heart attack warning sign.
Swelling
Sometimes, swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet could indicate that blood is not flowing as it should in the body. This could be associated with a blockage in the weeks before a heart attack.
Pain In Other Body Parts
Surprisingly, pain from a heart attack may not be isolated to your chest. It also can occur in your arms, back, jaw, or neck.This pain may happen during a heart attack but also in the weeks leading up to a heart attack.
Heart attack symptoms may occur before a heart attack as the body responds to reduced blood flow to the heart. Fatty cholesterol deposits, calcium, and inflammatory cells can accumulate in the walls of a coronary artery (those carrying blood to the heart), producing plaques.
If a plaque ruptures, it can cause a blood clot to form within the coronary artery, which can block blood and oxygen flow to the heart, producing a heart attack.
The underlying cause of symptoms associated with a heart attack include:
Right Before a Heart Attack: What Happens
Each person’s symptoms right before a heart attack may differ. However, several symptoms are common for most people. You’ll notice that these symptoms mirror the ones that occur in the weeks or months before a heart attack. These symptoms include:
If you or someone you’re with has the signs of a heart attack, call 911 right away. The sooner you get medical attention, the less chance you’ll have permanent damage to the heart.
A Word From Verywell
—RICHARD N. FOGOROS, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Summary
Chest pain, chest heaviness, and heart palpitations are common symptoms that may occur in the month before a heart attack. Prodromal symptoms develop as your body copes with reduced blood and oxygen flow to the heart. The symptoms that occur at the onset of a heart attack are often similar to the ones that appear the month before a heart attack, including chest pain and chest heaviness. Each person’s experience with heart attack symptoms is different.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sohail H, Ram J, Hulio AA, et al.Prodromal symptoms in patients presenting with myocardial infarction.Cureus. 2023;15(8):e43732. doi:10.7759/cureus.43732.American Heart Association.Heart failure signs and symptoms.Harvard Health.Heartburn vs. heart attack.Harvard Health.5 overlooked symptoms that may signify heart trouble.Temple Health.Heart attack symptoms: are they different for men and women?Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.Survey: As early heart attacks increase, many young people may not consider their risks.Ochsner Health.9 warning signs of a heart attack from your body a month before.Celano CM, Daunis DJ, Lokko HN, Campbell KA, Huffman JC.Anxiety disorders and cardiovascular disease.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016(11):101. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0739-5.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Johns Hopkins University.Heart attack.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sohail H, Ram J, Hulio AA, et al.Prodromal symptoms in patients presenting with myocardial infarction.Cureus. 2023;15(8):e43732. doi:10.7759/cureus.43732.American Heart Association.Heart failure signs and symptoms.Harvard Health.Heartburn vs. heart attack.Harvard Health.5 overlooked symptoms that may signify heart trouble.Temple Health.Heart attack symptoms: are they different for men and women?Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.Survey: As early heart attacks increase, many young people may not consider their risks.Ochsner Health.9 warning signs of a heart attack from your body a month before.Celano CM, Daunis DJ, Lokko HN, Campbell KA, Huffman JC.Anxiety disorders and cardiovascular disease.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016(11):101. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0739-5.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Johns Hopkins University.Heart attack.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sohail H, Ram J, Hulio AA, et al.Prodromal symptoms in patients presenting with myocardial infarction.Cureus. 2023;15(8):e43732. doi:10.7759/cureus.43732.American Heart Association.Heart failure signs and symptoms.Harvard Health.Heartburn vs. heart attack.Harvard Health.5 overlooked symptoms that may signify heart trouble.Temple Health.Heart attack symptoms: are they different for men and women?Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.Survey: As early heart attacks increase, many young people may not consider their risks.Ochsner Health.9 warning signs of a heart attack from your body a month before.Celano CM, Daunis DJ, Lokko HN, Campbell KA, Huffman JC.Anxiety disorders and cardiovascular disease.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016(11):101. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0739-5.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Johns Hopkins University.Heart attack.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
Sohail H, Ram J, Hulio AA, et al.Prodromal symptoms in patients presenting with myocardial infarction.Cureus. 2023;15(8):e43732. doi:10.7759/cureus.43732.
American Heart Association.Heart failure signs and symptoms.
Harvard Health.Heartburn vs. heart attack.
Harvard Health.5 overlooked symptoms that may signify heart trouble.
Temple Health.Heart attack symptoms: are they different for men and women?
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.Survey: As early heart attacks increase, many young people may not consider their risks.
Ochsner Health.9 warning signs of a heart attack from your body a month before.
Celano CM, Daunis DJ, Lokko HN, Campbell KA, Huffman JC.Anxiety disorders and cardiovascular disease.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016(11):101. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0739-5.
American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.
Johns Hopkins University.Heart attack.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
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