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Mar 11, 2024 · 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.
- Vanessa Caceres
- Overview
- What are symptoms you might experience 1 month before a heart attack?
- Differences in symptoms between men and women
- What are the symptoms of an impending heart attack?
- Takeaway
Symptoms of a heart attack can appear a month or more in advance. Chest pain, sleep problems, and unusual fatigue are among the most commonly reported warning signs.
Every year, about 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack. And for about 605,000 of those people, it’s their first heart attack.
Research suggests that many people develop symptoms in the days or months leading up to their heart attack. These early symptoms are known as prodromal symptoms.
Recognizing the potential warning signs of a heart attack can allow you to seek medical attention quickly and improve your chances of a full recovery.
Read on to learn more about the symptoms that might appear in the month or weeks before a heart attack.
Language matters
Symptoms of a heart attack can potentially develop months in advance. Unexplained chest pain is the most frequently reported symptom.
In a 2023 study involving 242 people who were treated for a heart attack at one heart center in Pakistan, 41.3% of the participants had prodromal symptoms. The authors noted that these findings are similar to those of other studies, which reported rates of 45–59%.
In this study, the most common prodromal symptoms were:
•chest pain, which made up 68% of symptoms
•chest heaviness
•heart palpitations
About 70% of heart attacks occur in males, but females are more likely to die within 1 year of experiencing a heart attack.
In a 2023 review of studies, researchers found evidence that females seem to be more likely to have prodromal symptoms than males.
Females also seem to more often develop symptoms that are less typically associated with a heart attack. The researchers report that more than 50% of females experienced sleep problems within 4 weeks of their heart attack, while only 32% of males did.
In a 2022 study, researchers found that chest pain was the most common prodromal symptom in males and females, occurring in 93.9% of males and 94.4% of females.
While chest pain is the most common prodromal symptom in people of both males and females, females often experience additional symptoms, including:
•sleep problems
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), some heart attacks occur suddenly and intensely, while others start slowly with mild symptoms.
The AHA recommends calling 911 if you experience:
•discomfort (pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain) in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and returns
•discomfort in other areas, such as:
•one or both arms
•your back or stomach
Many people develop symptoms days to months before experiencing a heart attack. Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms. Sleep problems, chest heaviness, and heart palpitations are also commonly reported.
It’s critical to seek immediate medical attention if you think you or somebody you’re with is having a heart attack. Seeking medical attention right away gives you the best chance of treating your heart attack without serious complications.
- Daniel Yetman
Dec 15, 2021 · How to recognize that you may be in danger. When it comes to heart attack warning signs, there’s a common set of symptoms that many of us know to look for. The vast majority of people who have a ...
Apr 24, 2023 · Early heart attack signs include cold sweats, stomach discomfort and nausea. Not all heart attacks come suddenly and dramatically. There are several subtle clues that can signal a heart attack.
Dec 5, 2022 · What are the warning signs of a heart attack? They include chest discomfort, arm, neck and jaw pain, shortness of breath, and more. The American Heart Association explains the most common symptoms of heart attack in men and women.
May 15, 2024 · A heart attack usually causes chest pain for more than 15 minutes. The chest pain may be mild or severe. Some people don't have any chest pain or pressure. Heart attack symptoms may include: Chest pain. It may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching. The chest pain may come and go.
Nov 30, 2021 · Summary. Many people may believe that heart attacks always involve crushing chest pain. Although chest pain can be a symptom, other more subtle symptoms can include extreme fatigue, nausea,...
