Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, with 8.9 million lives lost to cardiovascular disease in 2019 alone, according to the World Health Organization. Research published in The National Library of Medicine shows that warning signs frequently appear days or even months before a heart attack — yet they are routinely missed by both patients and clinicians. Knowing what to look for could make a critical difference.
In brief
- —WHO: 8.9 million cardiovascular deaths recorded in 2019
- —Warning signs can appear days or months before an attack
- —Fatigue, chest pressure and swollen feet among key signals
Prodromal symptoms: warning signs clinicians often miss
A study published in The National Library of Medicine identifies a set of symptoms — known as prodromal symptoms — that can manifest in the days or months before a heart attack. These early signals are, according to the research, often overlooked by both patients and primary clinicians, which can delay life-saving intervention.
