A heart surgeon has highlighted a warning sign you shouldn’t brush off when it comes to protecting your heart.
When it comes to a vital organ that’s working nonstop to keep you going, guidance from someone who treats heart problems for a living is worth paying attention to.
Dr Jeremy London, who regularly shares health-related advice online, was put on the spot by his son with a question about the most important warning sign of a heart attack.
biggest ‘red flag’
His answer carries extra weight, because he’s experienced a heart attack himself after overlooking symptoms that were trying to tell him something was wrong.
Before it happened, he recalls dealing with fatigue, low energy, what felt like heartburn, and a sharp pain in his chest.
While none of those signs are good, he explained that the combination of chest pain and becoming short of breath during exertion is particularly concerning.
He also said it matters when the symptoms show up—if they ease with rest and then return when you’re active, it may be time to take a hard look at what’s going on and address it rather than rationalise it away.
an ‘honest’
He explained:
“What’s one piece of life-saving advice that could prevent someone from having a massive heart attack?”
He clarified he wasn’t talking about pushing yourself to extremes.
running ‘a marathon’
Instead, he pointed to everyday situations where exertion shouldn’t leave you struggling.
‘taking out the trash’
‘going up a flight of stairs’
In his view, those moments can be the body signalling that something more serious may be developing.
Dr London said:
“Cause what’s happening is, with an important blockage, as you exert yourself, the heart muscle below is not getting enough oxygen and nutrients,”
He added that, when you stop and recover, the change in demand can make the symptoms settle again.
‘you sit down, heart rate comes down, and the symptoms are received.’
He noted that many people dismiss these changes as just part of ageing, or they quietly adjust their routines to avoid triggering the symptoms.
‘getting older’
In the YouTube video, he said:
“Now, most people just shrug this off as ‘I’m getting older’ or they scale their lifestyle.
“They park closer at the grocery store. They take the elevator. But these are warning signs.
“You need to have some intellectual honesty about what your body is telling you. And remember, denial is not a river in Egypt.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, heart attack symptoms can include:
- Chest pain, pressure, tightness, or discomfort
- Pain or discomfort spreading to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweat
- Fatigue
- Nausea or heartburn/indigestion-like discomfort
- Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
If you have symptoms like these, it’s important to seek medical help and get proper advice as soon as possible.