This headline is partly misleading. There is no reliable rule that your body will give you exactly six symptoms one month before every heart attack. Some heart attacks happen suddenly, while others begin gradually with warning symptoms. (www.heart.org)
Six symptoms worth taking seriously
- Chest pressure, squeezing or discomfort — especially in the center of the chest, lasting several minutes or coming and going.
- Shortness of breath — with or without chest discomfort.
- Pain or discomfort in the arm or shoulder — one or both sides.
- Pain in the jaw, neck, back or upper stomach.
- Unusual tiredness, weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Nausea, vomiting or cold sweating. (www.heart.org)
Women can be more likely to experience symptoms such as unusual fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, or back/shoulder pain, although chest discomfort remains the most common symptom for women too. (www.heart.org)
The important part
Don’t wait for symptoms to continue for weeks or assume you have “one month left.” A heart attack can occur without a long warning period, and some people have no preceding symptoms. (nhs.uk)
If someone is currently experiencing persistent chest pressure/pain, pain spreading to the arm/jaw/back, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or sweating with chest discomfort, treat it as an emergency and call your local emergency service immediately. (www.heart.org)
If you’d like, I can also explain the 6 symptoms that may appear days or weeks before a heart attack versus the symptoms that mean a heart attack may be happening right now.
