![\"While](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/79533593d359fd6facec5da5b98e113e.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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. The Good Brigade via Getty Images<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s well-known that issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and not enough exercise are risk factors<\/a> for a heart attack, many people may not know the early signs to tell if a cardiac event is on its way.<\/p>\n Experts say there are designated symptoms that happen in the days and weeks before a heart attack that can be a red flag.<\/p>\n Health: Doctors Reveal The 5 Things You Should Do Before A Colonoscopy<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Knowing these signs could be a lifesaver. Heart disease\u00a0is the No. 1 killer<\/a> of men and women in the United States. And Dr. Abha Khandelwal<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n Below, experts share some of the early warning signs for a heart attack and what to do if you experience them:<\/p>\n 1. Chest Pain Or Pressure<\/strong><\/p>\n 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<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n If you notice any sort of chest discomfort \u2014 angina can also show up in forms other than pain \u2014 it\u2019s important to call your doctor.<\/p>\n Health: 6 Signs Of Heart Problems That Have Nothing To Do With Chest Pain<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n 2. Neck, Shoulder Or Jaw Pain<\/strong><\/p>\n Typically we associate heart attacks with immediate pain in the left arm. However, early pain signs may not be as obvious.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes 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,\u201d Blumenthal said.<\/p>\n Khandelwal said it can also feel like a numbness that goes up to the jaw.<\/p>\n 3. Getting Easily Winded Or Uncomfortable After Exertion<\/strong><\/p>\n Becoming easily out of breath can be a red flag, too,\u00a0Khandelwal 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.<\/p>\n Health: We’re Cardiologists. Here Are 5 Things Heart Attack Survivors Should Do Daily.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n She added that some people notice numbness in the arm or chest discomfort after extreme exertion as well.<\/p>\n 4. Nausea Or Other Stomach Problems<\/strong><\/p>\n Abdominal pain, nausea and overall fatigue are potential heart attack warning signs, too, according to Dr. Nikhil Sikand<\/a>, a Yale Medicine cardiologist and assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine. But that doesn\u2019t go for everyone. \u201cSome patients may have mild or no symptoms at all,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n Chest pain in the month before a heart attack is common. ljubaphoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n More Frequent Or Intense Symptoms In The Days Leading Up To A Heart Attack<\/strong><\/p>\n The time ranges between symptoms and a cardiac event vary and can look very different from person to person. But Khandelwal said roughly two-thirds of her patients can look back over the month before a heart attack and point out a time when they experienced chest pain. Some people may notice worsening symptoms in the days leading up to a heart attack.<\/p>\n \u201cOftentimes, that day of, [or] the week of, leading up to [a heart attack]\u00a0can be filled with more symptoms,\u201d she said. These symptoms can be more frequent, last longer or may even be more severe.\u00a0<\/p>\n Health: 3 Startling Reasons Why The Holidays Are Bad For Your Heart<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n If you notice any symptoms, it\u2019s imperative you get help. Especially if the issues come on quickly and severely; then you should call 911 immediately, Khandelwal said.<\/p>\n If you have no history of heart disease and notice mild symptoms, you should still inform your doctor, she added. Your physician can help decide what to do and arrange testing if need be.<\/p>\n Those who get medical attention promptly \u2014 even after experiencing a heart attack \u2014 can get lifesaving treatment, Sikand noted.<\/p>\n Heart Attack Prevention In Your Everyday Life<\/strong><\/p>\n While many risk factors are out of your control, many are in your hands. Simple behaviors like committing to a daily walk<\/a> or cutting out certain foods<\/a> can help reduce your chances of a cardiac event, along with knowing your numbers<\/a> (blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar) and being aware of the warning signs of a heart attack.<\/p>\n![\"Chest](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/86711aa0e3cd14d9d9528d6119927ad3.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n