Taking care of our hearts is one of the most important things we can do for our health. According to the British Heart Foundation, over 8 million people in the UK are living with heart and circulatory disease – and sadly, someone dies from these conditions every three minutes.
We all know that things like eating the right foods, moderating alcohol intake, and getting regular exercise can help improve heart health. But it’s also important to be aware of the warning signs of heart disease and speak to your doctor if you have concerns, as detecting heart and circulatory diseases early 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 of heart disease are also signs of a heart attack. The British Heart Foundation has more information on which symptoms require urgent help (call 999) here.
1. Chest pain or discomfort
Chest pain or discomfort could be a sign of angina or a heart attack.
Angina is a condition where blood flow to the heart becomes restricted due to blood vessels becoming narrow or blocked. Chest pain caused by angina typically comes on when you exert yourself and stops within a few minutes of resting. Once diagnosed, it can also be treated with medication.
According to the NHS, angina isn’t usually life-threatening, but it is serious because 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 and haven’t 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. 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 indicate 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 chest discomfort, or if you have a burning sensation in your chest and stomach and aren’t sure what’s causing it.
That said, it’s important to note that feeling sick accompanied by 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.
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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 regularly feel sweaty and don’t know the cause, 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 research, around one in five UK adults aged 55 to 75 has evidence of PAD. 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 often with age. However, arm pain, pressure, tingling, or numbness are some of the most common symptoms of angina or a heart attack. It’s most common in the left shoulder and arm, but it can affect both arms.
The left arm can be affected 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 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 from the chest to these areas.
As with arm pain, health experts recommend phoning for an ambulance if jaw, neck, shoulder, or upper back pain or discomfort doesn’t go away, as it could be caused by a heart attack.
7. Shortness of breath
Various health conditions can cause shortness of breath, such as anxiety and anaemia. However, 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 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 you can get the treatment you need if you have a heart condition. However, shortness of breath that comes on with other heart attack symptoms (like chest pain or sweating) is a 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 your heart doesn’t work, but rather that it’s not working as efficiently as it should and may need some help. It usually happens when the heart becomes too stiff or weak and can gradually worsen 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 genetics. While it can’t be cured, the earlier you seek treatment and slow the disease’s progression, the better.
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, 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. If it occurs alongside other symptoms, call 999.
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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 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 down to not getting enough good-quality sleep, you might find it helpful to visit our sleep and fatigue section. Here, you’ll find tips on everything from how to wind down before bed to how to create the perfect sleep environment.
12. Sleep apnoea
There’s a growing body of research to support the link between sleep apnoea, high blood pressure, and heart problems.
This is because sleep apnoea 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 apnoea, symptoms that might occur while you sleep include…
- Breathing stops and starts
- Loud snoring
- Gasping, snorting, and choking noises
- Waking up frequently at night
- Headache upon waking
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
It’s important to make an appointment with your GP if you’re experiencing these symptoms. Getting sleep apnoea diagnosed and treated can prevent it from leading to more serious problems.
You can find more information in our article: Sleep apnoea – symptoms, causes, and treatment.
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. Although it’s worth being aware that women may be more likely to experience other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, nausea, or back or jaw pain.
Once an ambulance has been called, 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 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, knowing the signs and symptoms of heart disease, and understanding when to seek urgent medical treatment.
For further health guidance, including how to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, head over to our general health section. For more specific 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’re interested to hear from you in the comments below.
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