WHEN it comes to our hearts, the biggest red flag that something is wrong will be intense chest pain.
The pain of a heart attack is usually described as heaviness, tightness or pressure on the chest.
There are eight subtle signs you might be experiencing heart issues, other than chest pain
People experiencing it have described feeling like an elephant was sat on their chest or like a tight band was wrapped around it, according to the British Heart Foundation.
Meanwhile, chest pain that ramps up when you’re exerting yourself but goes away when you rest could be angina, a warning sign that you could be at risk of a heart attack or stroke
But heart issues can manifest in other, more subtle ways that don’t involve chest pain.
For example, symptoms of heart or circulatory disease can pop up in your stomach, lungs and even your feet.
Here are eight subtle that could be alerting you to get your ticker checked over.
1. Feeling unusually tired
If you’ve been working long hours or having trouble sleeping, your tiredness probably isn’t heart related.
But experiencing extreme fatigue if your lifestyle hasn’t changed is definitely something to talk to your GP about.
According to BHF, feeling tired all the time without a cause could be a symptom of heart failure, as well as other conditions.
2. Feeling sick
Again, this is another non-specific symptom that could be caused by a number of different conditions.
But if you’re feeling nauseous or vomiting along with experiencing chest pain, this is a sign to worry.
Professor David Newby from the BHF said: “If you experience intense chest pain even when you are just sitting around doing nothing and you are also feeling sick, that is the time to call for an ambulance.”
He added that an indigestion-type pain or a burning sensation in your chest or stomach can be a sign of a heart attack or related heart problem, because your heart and the passage to your stomach are next to each other.
Meanwhile, a choking sensation or tightness in your throat could be a sign of angina.
3. Discomfort in your jaw, back or stomach
According to Professor Newby, heart attacks can cause pain to spread to your jaw or back.
The NHS added that you might also feel pain radiating to your neck, arm – usually the left but it can be both – and tummy.
Some evidence does suggest that women don’t always experience the ‘typical’ heart attack symptoms, with pain in other parts of the body being a red flag.
4. Swelling in your feet and ankles
You might not think it, but symptoms of heart problems might show up in your legs.
Dr M Adil U Khan, a GP at Pall Mall Medical, told Mail Online: “Unexplained swelling, known as oedema, in the legs, ankles or abdomen, may also be signs of heart failure.”
Professor Newby warned that this symptom “shouldn’t be ignored, especially if the ankles get really big”.
But he added that swelling could also be caused by medication such as blood pressure tablets.
Another symptom that could show up in your legs is a “gripping, cramping sensation in your calves” when you’re walking, according to Professor Newby.
This is worth seeing your GP about, as it could be a sign of peripheral arterial disease, a narrowing or blockage of the vessels that carry blood to your heart due to a build-up of fatty substances.
5. Feeling dizzy or fainting
Feeling lightheaded or dizzy, or even fainting, could be signs of a heart attack or something else being wrong with your heart.
According to Dr Khan: “If fainting or any other symptom becomes a problem, consult a healthcare provider and schedule an appointment with a doctor or cardiologist.”
6. Feeling short of breath
It’s easy to peg breathlessness as a sign that we’re getting older or are simply unfit.
It’s normal to breathe a little harder when you’re walking briskly or cycling.
But feeling out of breath while doing everyday activities, especially if you haven’t experienced this before, could be a sign of a potentially serious heart condition, according to BHF.
That includes conditions like coronary heart disease, heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation.
Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you’re experiencing this.
8. Being unusually sweaty
Again, if you’re being physically active, a bit of perspiration is nothing to worry about.
But if you’re clammy or pouring with sweat for no apparent reason while also experiencing chest pain, this is a sign to get help immediately.
9. Having an irregular heart rate
Your heart jumping a beat or two every now and again isn’t a sign to immediately worry, according to Professor Newby.
But he stressed: “If your heart is going very fast and jumping around erratically then that’s when you should see your GP. If you feel like this and then you experience blackouts, call an ambulance.”
Meanwhile, Dr Khan said smartwatches and fitness trackers “can provide valuable data about your heart rate and may detect irregularities to some extent”.
But he said these gadgets can’t substitute a medical evaluation,so you should have concerning symptoms checked out by a health professional.