12 Signs of a Heart Attack a Month Before

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 symptoms such as 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.

If you or someone you're with has signs of a heart attack:

1. Call 911 right away and request an ambulance.

2. If the individual is awake, alert, and not allergic to aspirin, help them take either either two to four, low-dose, 81-milligram (mg) aspirin tablets or one 325-mg aspirin tablet.

3. If they have prescribed nitroglycerin, they can take it, too. Help them loosen tight or restrictive clothing and stay with them until emergency medical services arrive.

4. Be prepared to give CPR or use an AED (if available) if the person becomes unresponsive.

5. Let the paramedics know any medications and doses you helped the person take when they arrive.

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. It can feel 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 regular chest pain or discomfort, seek medical attention.

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 cannot identify the underlying cause, consult 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:

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea and vomiting

• Back or jaw pain

• Indigestion

• Extreme fatigue

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.

7. Dizziness or Lightheadedness

You may feel dizzy or lightheaded at times, even when you didn't experience these symptoms previously. The dizziness may occur due to reduced blood flow to the brain associated with the heart not pumping as effectively.

Let a healthcare provider know if you're experiencing dizziness along with other pre-heart attack symptoms.

8. Nausea

Stomach discomfort, nausea, and vomiting are all possible symptoms of heart disease and a heart attack. Keep an eye on this, especially if you're unable to identify another cause for the nausea.

9. 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.

10. 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.

Individuals with heart disease may experience orthopnea, which is shortness of breath when lying down. It can impact their ability to sleep.

11. Swelling

Sometimes, swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet could indicate heart disease. When blood does not flow around the body as it should, it can back up in the veins and cause swelling. The legs and ankles are a common place for this to happen.

12. Pain In Other Body Parts

Surprisingly, pain from a heart attack may not be isolated to your chest. It can also 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, the artery that carries blood to the heart, forming plaques.

If a plaque ruptures, it can cause a blood clot to form within the coronary artery, which can block blood flow and oxygen to the heart, resulting in a heart attack. While you can't reverse coronary artery disease once it is there, work with your healthcare provider to improve blood flow to the heart.

Causes of heart attack symptoms include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reduced blood flow to the heart can make the heart work harder to pump blood.

• An abnormal heart rhythm can cause symptoms such as dizziness.

• Blood not pumping as it should throughout the body can lead to symptoms like swollen legs or ankles.

What Happens Right Before a Heart Attack

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 into a sweat

• Back, neck, or jaw pain

• Arm or shoulder discomfort

• Shortness of breath

Seek emergency medical care if you suspect a heart attack.

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. People may experience different heart attack symptoms. If you are in doubt, consult a healthcare provider to check worrisome symptoms.