Seven signals your body may give you in the weeks leading up to a heart attack

A heart attack can feel like it strikes out of nowhere, but your body often sends quiet signals weeks beforehand. About a month before an attack, many people begin to experience subtle symptoms that are easy to mistake for stress, exhaustion, or simple digestive issues. These early clues are your body asking you to pay attention, and recognizing them could truly save your life.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that someone dies from cardiovascular disease every 33 seconds. Heart disease remains the number one killer of both men and women.

“A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when part of the heart muscle is deprived of enough blood,” the CDC explains. “The longer the delay in restoring blood flow, the more severe the damage.”

But a newer study published in the National Library of Medicine shows that certain symptoms appear up to a month before the actual event. That means there is time to seek medical help if the signs are recognized early.

Here are the symptoms to watch for so you can spot possible heart problems before they escalate.

Unusual fatigue
Feeling worn out at the end of a long day is normal. What isn’t normal is overwhelming fatigue that comes out of nowhere. Many women say they felt deeply drained weeks before their heart attack, even when they had no chest discomfort at all.

Signs to look for:

You feel exhausted despite sleeping well.
Simple tasks such as walking or climbing stairs leave you extremely tired.
The fatigue is sudden, intense, and doesn’t improve with rest.

People often dismiss this as burnout or emotional stress, but when this kind of fatigue lingers and shows up with other symptoms, it should not be brushed aside.

Shortness of breath
If breathing feels difficult or you suddenly cannot catch your breath without physical activity, your heart might be struggling.

Watch for:

Becoming breathless after light movement or even while seated.
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded along with shortness of breath.
Breathing becomes harder when lying flat.

This symptom is often mistaken for anxiety, asthma, or poor fitness, but sudden breathlessness is a major red flag that something serious could be happening.

Chest pain
Chest pain is the most widely recognized sign of a heart attack, yet it does not always appear in dramatic or obvious ways.

Be aware of:

A squeezing, tightening, or uncomfortable pressure in the chest.
Pain that comes and goes instead of remaining constant.
A sensation that feels like indigestion or heartburn, as noted by the Mayo Clinic.

Women especially may not experience the classic crushing pain often associated with men’s heart attacks. Their symptoms are usually milder, making chest discomfort easier to overlook.

Pain in the back, neck, jaw, or shoulders
Women are more likely than men to feel pain in parts of the upper body other than the chest.

Possible warning signs:

A dull ache in the jaw, back, or shoulders.
Pain that radiates into one arm or both.
Discomfort that appears suddenly or wakes you during the night.

This type of pain is frequently misinterpreted as arthritis or a pulled muscle, which delays proper medical attention.

Nausea, indigestion, or stomach pain
Digestive issues are another commonly overlooked sign of an upcoming heart attack. Many people confuse these symptoms with the flu or something they ate.

Look out for:

A queasy stomach or an unsettled feeling.
Unexplained vomiting or severe indigestion.
A heavy or painful sensation in the upper stomach area.

Because these symptoms resemble everyday stomach problems, people often ignore them until it is too late.

Cold sweats and dizziness
Breaking into a sudden cold sweat for no reason can be a significant warning sign.

Symptoms include:

Heavy sweating that begins suddenly.
Feeling faint, clammy, or weak.
A sense of panic even without emotional stress.

Sweating like this when you’re not overheated or exercising is not normal and may indicate the heart is under severe strain.

Sleep disturbances
Many people, especially women, report sleep problems in the weeks leading up to a heart attack.

Common signs:

Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Waking with anxiety or shortness of breath.
Nighttime sweating or discomfort that interrupts rest.

Sleep issues can have many causes, but persistent disturbances may point to an underlying cardiac issue.

Heart palpitations
If your heart suddenly feels like it is fluttering, pounding, or skipping, it could be a sign of something more than nerves or caffeine.

Signs include:

A fast or irregular heartbeat.
A strong sensation of pounding in the chest.
Weakness or dizziness accompanying the palpitations.

Occasional palpitations are normal for many people. However, frequent or unexplained irregular heartbeats could indicate heart disease.

If you experience any of these symptoms, especially if they appear suddenly or feel unusual for your body, contact a medical professional right away.

Pay attention to what your body is telling you, trust your instincts, and never dismiss symptoms that don’t feel normal. Share this information with others—you may help someone recognize these signs early and protect their health.