Looking after our hearts is one of the most important things that we can do for our health. According to the British Heart Foundation, 7.6 million people are living with heart and circulatory disease – and sadly, every three minutes someone dies from these conditions.
We all know that things like eating the right foods, moderating alcohol intake, and getting regular exercise can help to improve heart health. But it’s also important to be aware of the warning signs of heart disease, and to speak to your doctor if you have any concerns as early detection of heart and circulatory diseases can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Early detection of heart and circulatory diseases, such as angina, can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
With that said, here are 12 possible warning signs of heart disease.
Note: Many of the symptoms in this article are also signs of a heart attack. So, while symptoms brought on by exertion that subside soon after typically warrant an urgent GP appointment, you should call 999 if symptoms are severe, don’t go away, and/or come on very suddenly without a known cause.
1. Chest pain or discomfort
Chest pain or discomfort could be a sign of angina or a heart attack.
Angina happens when blood flow to the heart becomes restricted due to narrowing or blockages in the blood vessels. Chest pain caused by angina typically comes on when you exert yourself and stops within a few minutes of resting (or, once diagnosed, taking prescribed medication).
According to the NHS, angina isn’t usually life-threatening, but it is serious as it can increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. You can find out more about angina on the NHS website.
If you’re experiencing chest pain like this and haven’t already been diagnosed with a heart condition, the NHS recommends making an appointment with your GP who can check for heart problems and refer you to the hospital for tests.
Note: If you have chest pain or discomfort (such as pressure, tightness, or squeezing) that doesn’t go away and/or is accompanied by feeling extremely unwell, call 999 for an ambulance as soon as possible as it could be a sign of a heart attack.
2. Nausea, stomach pain, or indigestion
If your heart is struggling to send enough blood, and therefore nutrients, to your stomach, this may cause stomach pain, indigestion, vomiting, and/or diarrhoea.
But, because stomach troubles can be a symptom of various health conditions, it may not always be obvious if it’s heart-related. The British Heart Foundation recommends calling 111 for advice if you’re feeling sick and have discomfort in your chest, or have a burning sensation in your chest and stomach and aren’t sure what’s causing it.
With that said, it’s important to note that feeling sick accompanied by any intense chest pain is a reason to call for an ambulance. The same applies if you experience a new and sudden feeling of sickness, sweatiness, and lightheadedness.
It’s worth being aware that women are also more likely to suffer from stomach troubles when they have heart issues than men.
3. Sweating
Feeling sweaty and clammy for no apparent reason could signal heart trouble.
For example, the heart may be working harder to force blood through arteries clogged by fatty deposits (a condition called atherosclerosis). Infection of the heart lining (endocarditis) can also cause sweating, though this condition is rare.
So, if you’re regularly feeling sweaty and don’t know what’s causing it, it’s important to make an appointment with your doctor.
However, breaking out in a sudden cold sweat can also be a symptom of a heart attack, especially if paired with other heart attack symptoms like chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, or suddenly feeling sick or lightheaded. If you have these symptoms, you should dial 999.
4. Leg pain
Not everyone would associate leg pain with their heart, but it could be a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD happens when the arteries that carry blood to the legs become blocked by plaque, depriving tissues of oxygen.
According to the British Heart Foundation, about one in five people over 60 in the UK have some degree of PAD – and factors like smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes can increase your risk of developing it.
PAD is often characterised by a gripping, cramping sensation in the calves when you’re walking. If this sounds familiar, it’s important to make an appointment with your doctor.
Another heart-related condition that can cause leg pain is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a blood clot in the leg.
DVT requires immediate medical attention, so it’s worth familiarising yourself with the symptoms – such as warm skin around the painful area and swollen veins that are hard or sore to touch.
5. Arm pain
Aches and pains can occur more commonly with age. However, arm pain, pressure, tingling, or numbness is one of the most common symptoms of angina or a heart attack. It’s most common in the left shoulder and arm, though it can affect both arms.
The reason the left arm can be affected is because the heart and left arm send nerve signals to the same brain cells. This means that our brains can struggle to isolate the source of the pain or discomfort, causing it to be felt in both the arm and chest – or even just the arm.
This phenomenon, where the pain you feel in one part of your body is actually caused by pain or injury in another part of your body, is called ‘referred pain’.
If you experience these symptoms and haven’t been diagnosed with angina, the British Heart Foundation advises calling 999. If you have angina and your symptoms don’t go away after resting and using glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray (if prescribed), you should also call for an ambulance.
6. Pain in your jaw, neck, shoulder, or upper back
Both angina and heart attacks can also cause pain (or pressure, tingling, or numbness) in your back, neck, and jaw. Often, the pain or discomfort will spread to these areas from the chest.
As with arm pain, health experts recommend phoning an ambulance if arm pain or discomfort doesn’t go away, as it could be caused by a heart attack.
7. Shortness of breath
While shortness of breath can be caused by various health conditions, such as anxiety and anaemia, it can also be linked to heart problems – including angina, coronary heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, and heart attacks.
These conditions can cause shortness of breath for different reasons. For example, if your heart isn’t pumping enough oxygen-rich blood around the body fast enough, your body may respond, causing you to feel short of breath. Or, if your heart isn’t functioning as it should, fluid may build up in the lungs making it difficult to breathe.
Many people dismiss shortness of breath as being down to unfitness or getting older, but the British Heart Foundation advises that if it’s happening when you’re doing normal, everyday activities, it could be a sign of a heart condition.
If you can relate to this, it’s important to speak to your doctor, so that if you do have a heart condition, you can get the treatment you need. Though, shortness of breath that comes on with other heart attack symptoms (like chest pain or sweating) is reason to call for an ambulance.
8. Swollen ankles
Swollen legs and ankles (oedema) can have many different causes – such as standing or sitting for too long, being overweight, or eating lots of salty food. But it can also be a sign of heart failure, especially when coupled with shortness of breath and congestion in the lungs.
Heart failure doesn’t mean that your heart doesn’t work, but rather that it’s not working as efficiently as it should and may need some help to do so. It usually happens when the heart becomes too stiff or weak and can gradually get worse over time.
Legs, ankles, and feet can swell with this condition because when your heart loses some of its pumping power, the reduced force causes tissues to hold more fluid than they should.
Heart failure can be caused by various factors such as chronic high blood pressure, faulty heart valves, or even genetics. While it can’t be cured, the earlier you seek treatment the better, so that symptoms of the disease can be controlled and progression slowed.
9. Irregular heartbeat
The rhythm of our heartbeat is carefully controlled by electrical signals. If there’s a problem with this system, it can make our heart beat too slowly or too quickly (a condition known as an arrhythmia).
Some arrhythmias, known as ‘ectopic beats’ are harmless and nothing to worry about. This happens when a person with a healthy heart experiences extra or skipped heartbeats.
However, other arrhythmias can be more serious. One example is atrial fibrillation, which describes an irregular and often very rapid heartbeat that can cause blood clots in the heart.
The British Heart Foundation recommends seeing your GP if an irregular heartbeat lasts a long time, you’re worried about it, and/or you have a family history of heart problems. If an irregular heartbeat is accompanied by chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath, you should dial 999.
Note: Most adults have a resting heart rate of 60-100 beats per minute, so checking your pulse regularly can help you spot any irregularities.
While the ability to measure heart rate is a key feature of many sports watches and fitness trackers, you can also check your heart rate by finding your pulse and counting the number of beats per minute. Check out this guidance from The British Heart Foundation for more information.
10. Throat tightness
Throat tightness or a choking sensation can be caused by angina (the word angina means ‘choking’).
If this sensation doesn’t go away or you haven’t been diagnosed with a heart condition, the British Heart Foundation advises calling 111, or 999 if it occurs alongside other symptoms.
11. Extreme fatigue
Being tired can be a symptom of many different things, including a busy lifestyle or stress, so working out if it’s linked to a heart condition can be tricky.
But heart disease can restrict blood flow to the organs and muscles – meaning that everyday tasks can start to feel like hard work.
If you’re concerned about your energy levels, whether you think it’s heart-related or not, it’s worth making an appointment with your GP to investigate.
If you think your fatigue is because you simply aren’t getting enough good quality sleep, you might like to visit the sleep and fatigue section of our website. Here, you’ll find tips on everything from how to wind down before bed to how to create the perfect environment for sleep.
12. Sleep apnea
There’s a growing body of research to support the link between sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and heart problems.
This is because the condition causes you to repeatedly stop breathing while you sleep. This leads to a temporary drop in oxygen levels and sudden changes in blood pressure and heart rate as your body struggles to breathe.
According to a statement from the American Heart Association, “Obstructive Sleep Apnea prevalence is as high as 40% to 80% in patients with hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and stroke.”
If you have sleep apnea, symptoms that might occur while you sleep include breathing stopping and starting; loud storing; gasping, snorting, and choking noises; and waking up a lot in the night. You might also have a headache when you wake up, feel more tired than usual during the day, and find it difficult to concentrate.
It’s important to make an appointment with your GP if you’re experiencing these symptoms. Getting sleep apnea diagnosed and treated can prevent it from leading to more serious problems.
You can read more about sleep apnea on the NHS website.
What to do if you or someone else is having a heart attack
While the symptoms above can be signs of heart disease, it’s important to remember that they can also be signs of a heart attack.
If you think you or someone you know is having a heart attack, it’s important to call 999 immediately.
Chest pain is the most common symptom in men and women – though it’s worth being aware that women may be more likely to experience other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, nausea, or having back or jaw pain.
Once an ambulance has been called for a suspected heart attack, the NHS advises that you or the person you’re calling on behalf of…
- rest to avoid placing further strain on the heart
- swallow an aspirin tablet (ideally 300mg) if you’re not allergic to it, as this can help to thin the blood and improve blood flow
While, for many people, it can be scary to think about, it’s also worth familiarising yourself with what steps to follow if someone is in cardiac arrest – as it could save a life. You can find more details about what to do on the NHS website.
Final thoughts…
With heart and circulatory problems being responsible for more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK, taking care of our hearts has never been more important.
This means doing what we can to maintain a healthy lifestyle and knowing the signs and symptoms of heart disease, and when to seek urgent medical treatment.
For more health guidance, including how to regulate blood sugar levels, and reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, head over to the general health section of our website. For more information on heart health, check out our articles; 11 healthy heart tips and 10 delicious foods that can boost heart health.
Were you aware of the signs and symptoms above? Did you learn anything new from this article? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
