The symptoms that may occur in the month before a heart attack—known as prodromal symptoms—are similar to the symptoms that can occur during a heart attack. These include things like chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations.
There are other symptoms that are less typical, and each person’s experience is different. Some people don’t experience any symptoms at all.
This article discusses the six most common heart attack symptoms in the month before a heart attack, as well as those that happen less frequently. It also addresses what often happens right before a heart attack occurs.
1) Chest Pain
A 2023 cross-sectional study looked at 242 people who had experienced a heart attack. Of those 242 people, 100 experienced prodromal symptoms—minor symptoms before the onset of a more severe condition—in their case, a heart attack. In this study, chest pain was the most common symptom, with 68% of people experiencing it preceding their heart attack.
2) Chest Heaviness
The same study found that 44% of people who had prodromal symptoms described episodes of chest heaviness, tightness, or pressure, often associated with exertion. This is another common symptom affecting those who will go on to have a heart attack.
3) Heart Palpitations
The 2023 cross-sectional study also found that 42% of those with early heart attack symptoms had heart palpitations. Heart palpitations occur when your heart is pumping too fast or too hard. It may even feel as if your heart is skipping a beat.
4) Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is often indicative of cardiovascular (heart) disease. You may struggle to catch your breath, whether walking or doing something physical, and sometimes even at rest, feeling as if your lungs can’t get enough air.
5) Chest Burning
A burning sensation in your chest is another potential sign of an impending heart attack. Chest burning due to heart disease can feel like heartburn (and vice versa).
Note the timing of your symptoms (e.g., after consuming a spicy meal that typically triggers heartburn) and any additional symptoms. If you experience any of the symptoms in this article or other abnormal symptoms, seek medical care.
6) Fatigue
You may feel extra tired from time to time, but feeling extremely fatigued may signify a more serious issue. If you experience persistent fatigue and can’t identify the underlying cause, follow up with a healthcare provider.
Heart Attack Symptoms: Females vs. Males
Although females and males typically—though not always—experience chest pain as a heart attack symptom, females are more likely to have other symptoms that you may associate with a heart attack. These symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Indigestion
- Nausea
It’s also more common for females to dismiss these symptoms and attribute them to a less serious problem instead of seeking help. Yet that can delay lifesaving care.
Atypical Heart Attack Warning Symptoms
An increase in conditions such as obesity and high blood pressure contributes to a greater risk of heart attacks among young people. That’s why it’s important for adults of any age to be aware of heart attack warning symptoms.
In addition to the classic heart attack warning symptoms, some less common symptoms may occur in the month before a heart attack.
Dizziness
You may feel dizzy or lightheaded at times when you didn’t feel it previously. The dizziness may happen because of less blood flow to the brain associated with a blockage. Let a healthcare provider know if you’re feeling dizzy alongside other pre-heart attack symptoms.
Nausea
Stomach discomfort is yet another symptom that may occur in the weeks before a heart attack. You’ll want to keep an eye on this, especially if you can’t pinpoint another cause for the nausea.
Anxiety
Among patients with pre-heart attack symptoms, 23% experienced anxiety, according to one study. People with cardiovascular disease often have co-occurring anxiety, which can contribute to disease progression.
Sleep Disturbances
There can be many causes for not getting a good night’s rest, including extra stress or consuming caffeine too close to bedtime. However, sleep problems that occur without an apparent cause could be a heart attack warning sign.
Swelling
Sometimes, swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet could indicate that blood is not flowing as it should in the body. This could be associated with a blockage in the weeks before a heart attack.
Pain In Other Body Parts
Surprisingly, pain from a heart attack may not be isolated to your chest. It also can occur in your arms, back, jaw, or neck. This pain may happen during a heart attack but also in the weeks leading up to a heart attack.
Why Symptoms Precede a Heart Attack
Heart attack symptoms may occur before a heart attack as the body responds to reduced blood flow to the heart. Fatty cholesterol deposits, calcium, and inflammatory cells can accumulate in the walls of a coronary artery (those carrying blood to the heart), producing plaques.
If a plaque ruptures, it can cause a blood clot to form within the coronary artery, which can block blood and oxygen flow to the heart, producing a heart attack.
The underlying cause of symptoms associated with a heart attack include:
- Reduced blood flow to the heart makes the heart work harder to pump blood.
- An abnormal heart rhythm could cause a symptom like dizziness.
- Blood is not pumping as it should throughout the body, which can lead to a symptom like swollen legs or ankles.
Right Before a Heart Attack: What Happens
Each person’s symptoms right before a heart attack may differ. However, several symptoms are common for most people. You’ll notice that these symptoms mirror the ones that occur in the weeks or months before a heart attack. These symptoms include:
- Chest pain or discomfort, usually in the center or the left side of the chest. The pain may last more than a couple of minutes, or it may come and go.
- Feeling light-headed or as if you’re going to faint
- Breaking out into a sweat
- Back, neck, or jaw pain
- Arm or shoulder discomfort
- Shortness of breath
If you or someone you’re with has the signs of a heart attack, call emergency hotline right away. The sooner you get medical attention, the less chance you’ll have permanent damage to the heart.
A Word From Verywell
Heart attacks don’t usually occur “out of the blue;” they are typically preceded by symptoms that are all too easy to rationalize away. An impending heart attack can be prevented with medical care. So, if you experience any of these symptoms, don’t ignore them. Contact your healthcare provider right away.
— RICHARD N. FOGOROS, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Richard N. Fogoros, MD
Summary
Chest pain, chest heaviness, and heart palpitations are common symptoms that may occur in the month before a heart attack. Prodromal symptoms develop as your body copes with reduced blood and oxygen flow to the heart. The symptoms that occur at the onset of a heart attack are often similar to the ones that appear the month before a heart attack, including chest pain and chest heaviness. Each person’s experience with heart attack symptoms is different.