What Are the Common Symptoms of Heart Disease?

As a cardiologist, one of the most important parts of my role is helping people recognise the early signs of heart disease. Many of us associate heart trouble with sudden, dramatic events like heart attacks. But in reality, heart disease often develops slowly, with subtle warning signs that can be easily missed or misattributed to stress, ageing, or other conditions.

In this blog, I want to outline the common symptoms of heart disease, what they might mean, and when it’s time to speak to your doctor. Awareness truly does save lives—especially when it comes to your heart.

Why It’s Important to Spot Heart Symptoms Early

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally. In the UK, around 7.6 million people live with heart or circulatory disease. Many of these conditions progress quietly for years, only becoming apparent once significant damage has already occurred.

Early diagnosis, often prompted by recognising common symptoms, gives us a better chance of managing the condition effectively. Timely treatment can reduce your risk of heart attacks, strokes, or heart failure.

1. Chest Pain or Discomfort

This is one of the most well-known signs of heart trouble—but not all chest pain is the same. People often describe it as:

• Tightness, pressure, or squeezing in the chest

• A heavy or dull ache

• Pain that may spread to the neck, jaw, shoulders, or arms (usually the left)

This type of discomfort may appear during physical activity or stress and ease with rest. These are classic signs of angina, which is often caused by narrowed coronary arteries reducing blood flow to the heart.

Important: If chest pain comes on suddenly, is severe, or is accompanied by nausea or breathlessness, seek emergency help. This could be a heart attack, where blood flow to part of the heart muscle is completely blocked.

2. Shortness of Breath

Feeling breathless after light activity—or even while resting—can be a sign that your heart isn’t pumping blood efficiently. This might mean the heart muscle is weakened (as in heart failure) or that fluid is building up in the lungs.

Some people notice breathlessness when lying flat, which improves when sitting upright. This is another possible red flag for heart failure.

If you find yourself struggling to catch your breath during everyday tasks, it’s worth having your heart checked.

3. Unusual Tiredness or Fatigue

Everyone feels tired occasionally, but persistent fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest could signal a heart problem. It may be caused by reduced oxygen reaching your tissues due to poor heart function.

This is particularly common in women with heart disease, who may not always experience classic chest pain. Instead, they may feel unusually exhausted, even after light activities.

4. Palpitations or Irregular Heartbeat

Palpitations feel like your heart is fluttering, racing, skipping beats, or pounding in your chest. While some are harmless (especially during stress or caffeine intake), others may point to an arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation (AF).

AF is a common abnormal rhythm that increases the risk of stroke and heart failure if untreated. We often detect it using a simple ECG or heart monitor.

If your heartbeat feels irregular or consistently too fast or slow, it’s a good idea to seek medical advice.

5. Dizziness or Lightheadedness

Feeling faint or lightheaded can sometimes occur due to heart conditions that affect blood pressure or circulation. It may also happen with heart block, where the electrical signals controlling your heartbeat are delayed.

If you experience dizziness regularly—especially with palpitations or blackouts—it may be time for a heart review.

6. Swelling in the Legs, Ankles, or Abdomen

Swelling (also known as oedema) in the lower body can result from fluid build-up due to heart failure. When the heart isn’t pumping effectively, blood can back up in the veins, causing fluid to leak into surrounding tissues.

People may also feel bloated or notice that their shoes or socks leave deep marks.

7. Persistent Cough or Wheezing

A long-standing cough, especially one that produces white or pink frothy mucus, may be a sign of fluid in the lungs from heart failure. You may also experience wheezing or a rattling chest sensation when lying flat.

This isn’t one of the first symptoms people associate with heart disease, but it’s something we look for when assessing someone with suspected heart failure.

8. Pain in the Jaw, Neck, or Upper Back

Heart pain isn’t always felt in the chest. Particularly in women, the symptoms of heart disease can be more subtle and may include:

• Jaw or neck pain

• Shoulder or upper back pain

• A dull ache between the shoulder blades

These may be mistaken for muscle strain, indigestion, or anxiety. If they’re persistent or occur with exertion, they could be related to the heart.

9. Cold Sweats, Nausea, or Indigestion

These are often overlooked as signs of a heart attack, especially in women. Cold, clammy skin, a feeling of dread or unease, and nausea may occur without dramatic chest pain.

If these symptoms come on suddenly—particularly if you have risk factors like high blood pressure or diabetes—call for medical help.

10. No Symptoms at All

Some people, especially those with diabetes, may not feel pain in the usual way. Silent or “asymptomatic” heart disease is more common than you’d expect. This is why routine heart health screening is so important.

A simple echocardiogram, ECG, or blood pressure check can reveal early signs of trouble before symptoms appear.

When to See a Cardiologist

If you’re experiencing any of these common symptoms, don’t wait to get them assessed. At Heartsure, we help patients understand what their symptoms mean and provide fast, detailed cardiac testing.

We often start with:

• A clinical history and symptom review

• An ECG to check heart rhythm

• A blood test for cholesterol or markers of damage

• An echocardiogram to look at heart structure and function

• A stress test to assess blood flow under exertion

You don’t need to have all the symptoms to justify a review—just one is enough to explore further.

If you’re based in Surrey or the surrounding areas and would like reassurance or a full cardiac workup, contact us here for more information.

Understanding Your Risk Factors

Even if you’re not experiencing symptoms, you may still be at risk. These are the main risk factors for developing heart disease:

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Smoking

• Diabetes

• Obesity

• Family history of heart disease

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Stress and poor sleep

If you fall into any of these categories, it’s worth having a routine heart health check every couple of years.

Early Diagnosis Makes a Difference

The good news is that most heart conditions are manageable—especially when caught early. With lifestyle changes, medications, or simple procedures, many people continue living full, active lives.

But the first step is recognising the common symptoms and getting the right help.

If you’re concerned about your heart or just want peace of mind, I encourage you to have a conversation with your GP or a heart specialist. You don’t have to wait for symptoms to become severe to take your health seriously.

If you’re unsure where to start, our clinic offers quick access to expert care, full cardiac screening, and personalised advice based on your needs.