If you mean warning signs that your heart may not be functioning properly, pay attention to:
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Chest pain, pressure, squeezing, or heaviness, especially if it occurs with activity or spreads to the arm, shoulder, back, neck, or jaw.
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Shortness of breath, including breathlessness during ordinary activities or while lying down.
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Unusual or persistent fatigue, especially if it is new or unexplained.
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Fast, pounding, fluttering, or irregular heartbeat (palpitations).
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Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting, particularly with exertion.
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Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, or abdomen.
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Sudden weight gain from fluid retention.
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Reduced ability to exercise compared with your normal level.
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Persistent cough or wheezing, particularly when lying down.
🚨 Get emergency help now
If you have new or severe chest pressure/pain, severe difficulty breathing, fainting, cold sweating, nausea, or pain/discomfort spreading to your arm, jaw, back, or neck, seek emergency medical care immediately. A heart attack can sometimes cause less typical symptoms, particularly in women, older adults, and people with diabetes.
Symptoms alone cannot tell you whether the problem is your heart—some have other causes—but new, unexplained, or worsening symptoms deserve medical evaluation.
