Research has pinpointed five warning signs that may appear a “month before” a heart attack occurs. Medical professionals have also warned that women are particularly at risk of overlooking crucial symptoms, which could increase their likelihood of deadly cardiac incidents.

While chest pain continues to be a well-known sign of heart troubles, other warning signals are much less recognised and could easily be mistaken for various ailments. This misunderstanding might lead to people delaying critical medical treatment.

Highlighting this issue, a study featured in the medical journal Circulation found that indigestion was frequently experienced by women in the month prior to their heart attack. Around 39 per cent of female study participants reported suffering from stomach problems before their cardiac episode, although indigestion typically wasn’t present during the actual heart attack.

The NHS describes indigestion as discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen (dyspepsia) or a burning feeling behind the breastbone (heartburn). The study aimed to provide a precise picture of heart disease symptoms in women and enhance awareness of these critical early warning signs.

The study authors stated: “The current description of ‘typical’ cardiac symptoms is based primarily on the experience of white, middle-aged men,” reports the Liverpool Echo.

They emphasised that this narrow perspective “contributes to misunderstandings in clinicians and lay individuals, leads to inaccurate diagnosis, and causes women to delay seeking treatment.”

The researchers also noted that earlier studies have demonstrated between 85 to 90 per cent of women reported experiencing multiple symptoms before a heart attack. According to the study, women reported the following symptoms in the month leading up to the heart attack:

  • Unusual fatigue (71 per cent)

  • Sleep disturbance (48 per cent)

  • Shortness of breath (42 per cent)

  • Indigestion (39 per cent)

During a heart attack, women experienced these symptoms:

  • Shortness of breath (58 per cent)

  • Unusual fatigue (43 per cent)

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has revealed that women are 50 per cent more likely to receive a misdiagnosis for heart problems than men. The BHF recommends the following ways to lower your risk of a heart attack:.

If you or someone you know is suspected of having a heart attack, you should dial 999 or visit your nearest A&E immediately.