The 4 Biggest Early Warning Signs Before A Heart Attack

While knowing the risk factors for heart disease is important, it's also crucial that you're aware of the early warning signs of a heart attack.

While it’s well-known that issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and not enough exercise are risk factors for a heart attack, many people may not know the early signs to tell if a cardiac event is on its way.

Experts say there are designated symptoms that happen in the days and weeks before a heart attack that can be a red flag.

Knowing these signs could be a lifesaver. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women in the United States. And Dr. Abha Khandelwal, a clinical associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford Health Care, said doctors are seeing an increase in mortality from heart disease during the pandemic, which underscores the importance of being armed with knowledge about your risk and the signs.

Below, experts share some of the early warning signs for a heart attack and what to do if you experience them:

1. Chest Pain Or Pressure

Angina, which is intermittent chest pain caused by the gradual buildup of plaque inside the arteries, can be a warning sign that a heart attack or cardiac event may occur in the ensuing days, according to Dr. Roger Blumenthal, the director of the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. A constriction or spasm of the arteries on the outside of the heart can also lead to this symptom.

If you notice any sort of chest discomfort — angina can also show up in forms other than pain — it’s important to call your doctor.

2. Neck, Shoulder Or Jaw Pain

Typically we associate heart attacks with immediate pain in the left arm. However, early pain signs may not be as obvious.

“Sometimes angina is synonymous with chest pain or chest pressure but sometimes, especially with older individuals, there may be other associated symptoms like ... pain that radiates through the neck or shoulder or arm,” Blumenthal said.

Khandelwal said it can also feel like a numbness that goes up to the jaw.

3. Getting Easily Winded Or Uncomfortable After Exertion

Becoming easily out of breath can be a red flag, too, Khandelwal said. This could include feeling more winded than usual after doing a simple task, like installing a new light fixture or getting your garden ready for spring.

She added that some people notice numbness in the arm or chest discomfort after extreme exertion as well.

4. Nausea Or Other Stomach Problems

Abdominal pain, nausea and overall fatigue are potential heart attack warning signs, too, according to Dr. Nikhil Sikand, a Yale Medicine cardiologist and assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine. But that doesn’t go for everyone. “Some patients may have mild or no symptoms at all,” he noted.