Early signs of heart disease in males

Catch the signs early

Don’t wait to get help if you experience any of these heart attack warning signs. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. But most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Pay attention to your body and call 911 if you experience:

Table of Contents Show

Catch the signs early
Symptoms vary between men and women
Don’t hesitate to call 911
Learn more:
Heart attacks
Heart failure
What to do if someone has a heart attack
What are at least 3 early warning signs of heart disease?
What are the ten sneaky signs of heart disease?
What is the most common heart disease in men?
How do you detect early heart disease?

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes – or it may go away and then return. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath. This can occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs. Other possible signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Download the common heart attack warning signs infographic (JPEG) | (PDF)

Symptoms vary between men and women

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain (angina) or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Learn about the warning signs of heart attack in women.

Watch video: “Just A Little Heart Attack” – a short film directed by and starring Elizabeth Banks

Don’t hesitate to call 911

Learn the signs for heart attack, and remember: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out.

Minutes matter. Fast action can save lives - maybe your own.

Call 911 if you experience heart attack warning signs. Calling 911 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment.

An emergency medical services (EMS) team can begin treatment when they arrive – up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too.

For many reasons, it’s best to call 911 so that an experienced EMS team can begin treatment and arrange rapid transport to the emergency room.

Watch an animation of a heart attack.

Learn more:

Heart attack warning signs: English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
Stroke warning signs

The most common symptoms of coronary heart disease (CHD) are chest pain (angina) and breathlessness.

But some people may not have any symptoms before they're diagnosed.

Angina

If your coronary arteries become partially blocked, it can cause chest pain (angina). This can be a mild, uncomfortable feeling similar to indigestion.

However, a severe angina attack can cause a painful feeling of heaviness or tightness, usually in the centre of the chest, which may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach.

Angina is often triggered by physical activity or stressful situations. Symptoms usually pass in less than 10 minutes, and can be relieved by resting or using a nitrate tablet or spray.

Heart attacks

If your arteries become completely blocked, it can cause a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Heart attacks can permanently damage the heart muscle and, if not treated straight away, can be fatal.

Dial 999 for immediate medical assistance if you think you're having a heart attack.

Although symptoms can vary, the discomfort or pain of a heart attack is usually similar to that of angina. However, it's often more severe and may happen when you're resting.

During a heart attack, you may also have the following symptoms:

pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is travelling from your chest to your arms, jaw, neck, back or stomach
lightheadedness
sweating
nausea
breathlessness

The symptoms of a heart attack can also be similar to indigestion. For example, they may include a feeling of heaviness in your chest, a stomach ache or heartburn.

A heart attack can happen at any time, including while you're resting. If heart pains last longer than 15 minutes, it may be the start of a heart attack.

Unlike angina, the symptoms of a heart attack are not usually relieved using a nitrate tablet or spray.

A heart attack can sometimes happen without any symptoms. This is known as a silent myocardial infarction and is more common in older people and people with diabetes.

Heart failure

Heart failure can also happen in people with CHD. The heart becomes too weak to pump blood around the body, which can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.

Heart failure can happen suddenly (acute heart failure) or gradually, over time (chronic heart failure).

What to do if someone has a heart attack

When someone has a heart attack, a bystander – often a relative with no medical expertise – is usually the first on the scene.

However, less than 1% of the population have attended an emergency life support course.

The following organisations can teach you how to help someone having a heart attack:

British Heart Foundation: could you save a life?
British Red Cross: first aid courses
St John Ambulance: find first aid courses near you

Page last reviewed: 10 March 2020
Next review due: 10 March 2023

What are at least 3 early warning signs of heart disease?

Symptoms.

Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort (angina).

Shortness of breath..

Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper belly area or back..

Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms if the blood vessels in those body areas are narrowed..

What are the ten sneaky signs of heart disease?

11 signs you might have heart disease.

Chest pain. It's the classic sign of a heart attack, yet many people don't realise this could be a medical emergency. ... .

Feeling sick. ... .

Stomach pain or indigestion. ... .

Feeling sweaty. ... .

Leg pain. ... .

Arm pain. ... .

Jaw or back pain. ... .

Choking sensation..

What is the most common heart disease in men?

Heart disease is a term that includes several more specific heart conditions. The most common heart disease in the US is coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become hardened and narrowed due to the buildup of plaque.