Doctor Lists 10 Signs of Heart Attack Beyond Chest Pain
A cardiologist shares 10 often-overlooked warning signs of heart attack, including throat tightness, unusual fatigue, and sweating, since cardiac symptoms don't always present as classic chest pain.
Dr. Akanis Srisukwattana, a sports cardiologist and internist specializing in cardiovascular disease, has posted an educational guide on Facebook outlining 10 critical warning signs of cardiac ischemia that everyone should know. Heart disease doesn't always present as textbook chest pain radiating to the left shoulder; symptoms can be subtle, leading people to misdiagnose them as acid reflux, ordinary fatigue, or stress.
Key warning signs include: tightness, heaviness, squeezing, or pressure in the chest (not necessarily pain) that may radiate to the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, or back; throat tightness or burning sensations resembling acid reflux; unusual or worsening fatigue compared to baseline; symptoms triggered by exertion that improve with rest; sweating, nausea, or dizziness accompanying chest symptoms; symptoms occurring at rest or becoming more frequent and severe; and the fact that even fit athletes with good cardiovascular fitness can have blocked coronary arteries. Dr. Akanis warns against jumping to alternative diagnoses like muscle inflammation or anxiety without proper evaluation, notes that initial electrocardiograms and blood tests may be normal (especially if done too early), and emphasizes assessing both symptoms and individual risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, hypertension, or family history. He stresses that when in doubt, diagnostic testing should be thorough and conclusive, and that seeking a second opinion from another physician is always acceptable and encouraged, as human error—even among doctors—can occur. Early misdiagnosis of heart disease can be fatal.
