6 Indicators of an Impending Heart Attack a Month Ahead

Just two typical prodromal symptoms—minor symptoms that appear before a more serious health event—that a person may encounter in the month before to a heart attack are chest discomfort and shortness of breath. There are additional symptoms, and the experience varies from person to person. Some individuals never have any symptoms at all.

The symptoms that are typical and uncommon in the month preceding a heart attack are covered in this article. It also discusses what frequently takes place just prior to a heart attack.

Six Typical Heart Attack Warning Signs

There are similarities between the symptoms that can arise after a heart attack and those that might appear in the month preceding one. The most prevalent ones are as follows:

• Chest pain
• Chest heaviness
• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Chest burning
• Fatigue

Chest Pain

A cross-sectional research conducted in 2023 examined 242 heart attack survivors. Out of the 242 individuals, 100 had prodromal symptoms, which are mild symptoms that appear before a more serious ailment, in this case a heart attack. In this study, 68% of participants reported having chest pain prior to having a heart attack, making it the most prevalent symptom.

Weight in the Chest

44% of those with prodromal symptoms, according to the same study, reported experiencing moments of pressure, tightness, or heaviness in their chest, which were frequently linked to exertion. This is yet another typical sign that someone is about to suffer a heart attack.

Heart Palpitations

Additionally, 42% of people with early heart attack symptoms reported having heart palpitations, according to the 2023 cross-sectional study.1. Your heart palpates when it pumps too quickly or forcefully. Your heart can even seem to be beating faster than usual.

Shortness of Breath

Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is frequently a sign of cardiovascular illness, or heart disease. Whether you’re walking or exercising, or even just relaxing, you could find it difficult to breathe, feeling as though your lungs aren’t getting enough air.

Chest Burning

Another indication that a heart attack is about to happen is a burning feeling in your chest. Heartburn might feel similar to chest burning if you have heart disease, and vice versa.

Note any additional symptoms you may be experiencing as well as the timing of your symptoms (for example, after eating a spicy meal that usually causes heartburn). Seek medical attention if you encounter any of the symptoms listed in this article or any other unusual symptoms.

Fatigue

While occasional fatigue may indicate a more serious problem, persistently high levels of fatigue may indicate something more. Consult a healthcare provider again if you feel fatigued all the time and are unable to find the source.

6 Atypical Heart Attack Warning Symptoms

The prevalence of high blood pressure and obesity is on the rise, which puts young people at higher risk of heart attacks. Adults of any age should therefore be aware of the warning signs of a heart attack.

A month prior to a heart attack, a few less typical symptoms may also manifest in addition to the standard warning signs.

Dizziness

Sometimes you might experience lightheadedness or vertigo when you haven’t before. A obstruction that results in reduced blood flow to the brain could be the source of the dizziness. If you have other pre-heart attack symptoms in addition to feeling lightheaded, let a healthcare professional know.

Nausea

Another symptom that may appear in the weeks preceding a heart attack is stomach ache.If you are unable to identify another reason for your nausea, you should pay close attention to this.

Anxiety

Anxiety was reported by 23% of participants exhibiting pre-heart attack symptoms in one research. Anxiety co-occurs frequently in people with cardiovascular disease, which may hasten the disease’s course.

Sleep Disturbances

Lack of sleep can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as excessive stress or caffeine use right before bed. On the other hand, insomnia that doesn’t seem to have a clear explanation could be a warning indication of a heart attack.

Swelling

Swelling in the feet, ankles, or legs can occasionally be a sign that the body’s blood flow is abnormal. This might be connected to a blockage that occurred in the weeks preceding a heart attack.

Other Body Part Pain

It may surprise you to learn that heart attack pain is not limited to your chest. It may also happen in your neck, jaw, back, or arms.9. This pain can occur in the weeks preceding a heart attack as well as during one.

Why There Are Signs Before a Heart Attack

The body’s reaction to decreased blood flow to the heart might cause heart attack symptoms to manifest prior to a heart attack. The accumulation of inflammatory cells, calcium, and fatty cholesterol deposits in the walls of coronary arteries (the blood vessels supplying the heart) can result in plaques.

A blood clot that forms inside the coronary artery as a result of a plaque rupture has the potential to obstruct blood and oxygen flow to the heart, resulting in a heart attack.

The following are the root causes of heart attack symptoms:

• The heart must work harder to pump blood when there is less blood supply to the organ.
• A dizziness-like symptom could be brought on by an irregular heartbeat.
• Ankles and legs swelling can be a sign that the blood is not flowing through the body as it should.

What Occurs Just Before a Heart Attack

The symptoms that a person experiences just before a heart attack can vary. However, the majority of people have a few common symptoms. These symptoms are similar to those that you experience in the weeks or months preceding a heart attack, as you will discover. Among these signs are:

• Discomfort or soreness in the chest, commonly on the left or center side. The discomfort may be constant or sporadic, lasting longer than a few minutes.
• Feeling dizzy or as though you might pass out
• Getting hot and bothered
• Jaw, neck, or back aches
• Soreness in the arms or shoulders
• Breathlessness