The heart does sometimes give warning signs, but not always, and not neatly “a month in advance.” Some symptoms can appear weeks before a serious event like a heart attack — but they can also happen suddenly.
Here are real warning signs you should never ignore:
🚨 1️⃣ Chest Pressure or Tightness
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Feels like squeezing, heaviness, fullness, or burning
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May come and go
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Can spread to arm, neck, jaw, or back
😮💨 2️⃣ Shortness of Breath
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During mild activity
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Or even at rest
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Especially if new or worsening
😴 3️⃣ Unusual Fatigue
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Extreme tiredness for days or weeks
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More common in women
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Not explained by sleep loss
🤢 4️⃣ Nausea, Indigestion, or Upper Stomach Pain
Sometimes mistaken for acid reflux.
😰 5️⃣ Sweating for No Clear Reason
Cold sweats without exercise or heat.
💓 6️⃣ Irregular or Racing Heartbeat
Especially with dizziness or fainting.
⚠️ 7️⃣ Swelling in Legs or Feet
Can signal heart failure if combined with breathlessness.
Important Truth
Not everyone gets early warnings.
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Some people have symptoms weeks before.
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Others have sudden symptoms with little warning.
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Women often have subtler signs than men.
Call Emergency Services Immediately If:
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Chest pain lasts more than a few minutes
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Pain spreads to arm/jaw/back
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Severe shortness of breath
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Fainting
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Crushing chest pressure
Do not wait to see if it passes.
If you’re asking because you’re experiencing symptoms right now, tell me what you’re feeling.
If it’s severe or sudden, seek emergency care immediately.