7 Warning Signs It May Be Time to See a Heart Doctor

Most chest twinges are not your heart

Here is how to tell which symptoms are worth a call, and which need 911.

Most chest twinges are not your heart. Most tiredness is not your heart either. And a racing heartbeat is often just too much coffee, stress, or a bad night's sleep.



But some signs are worth a check. This is truer when they are new, when they keep coming back, when they get worse, or when a few of them happen together.

Here are seven signs to know. For each one, we explain what it can feel like, and when it is time to call.

1. Chest pain, pressure or tightness

Heart pain often does not feel sharp. People say it feels like pressure, squeezing, a heavy weight, or tightness in the middle of the chest.

The feeling can spread to the arm, back, neck, jaw, or upper belly. It often comes on when you are active, like walking uphill, and eases when you rest.

Not everyone feels it this way. Women, people with diabetes, and older adults may feel short of breath, sick to their stomach, very tired, or have pain in the back or jaw instead.

When to call: chest discomfort that is new or keeps coming back. If it comes with sweating, feeling sick, or feeling faint, call 911.

2. Getting out of breath

Everyone gets out of breath on the stairs now and then. The warning sign is getting out of breath more easily than you used to.

Two things point more to the heart:

• You need extra pillows at night, because lying flat makes it hard to breathe.
• You wake up at night gasping, and have to sit up to catch your breath.



When to call: soon, not at your next routine visit.

3. A racing, fluttering or skipping heartbeat

Sometimes your heart may feel like it is racing, pounding, fluttering, or skipping a beat. Doctors call this palpitations.

Most of the time it is harmless and passes quickly. Coffee, alcohol, stress, exercise, and some medicines can all set it off.

Some uneven heartbeats matter more. One common type, called atrial fibrillation, can raise the chance of a stroke, even when you barely feel it. That is why it is worth finding.

When to call: if it happens often, lasts more than a few minutes, or comes with chest pain, trouble breathing, dizziness, or fainting.

4. Dizziness or fainting

Feeling dizzy has many causes, like standing up too fast or not drinking enough water.

Fainting is different. If you pass out and do not know why, it always needs a check. Sometimes the cause is the heart's rhythm, or the heart not pumping well enough.

When to call: the same day if you faint during exercise, faint with no warning, or faint after your heart races or your chest hurts.

5. Feeling more tired than usual

Being tired now and then is normal. What matters is a change.

Maybe a walk you used to enjoy now wears you out. Or daily chores leave you drained in a way they did not a few months ago.



Tiredness has many causes, so it is not always the heart. But if it comes with getting out of breath, swelling, or chest discomfort, it is worth a look.

6. Swollen ankles, feet or legs

Swollen ankles are common. They can come from standing a lot, hot weather, some blood pressure pills, or vein problems.

Swelling can also happen when the heart is not pumping as well as it should, and fluid builds up in the body.

When to call: if the swelling is new, keeps getting worse, or comes with getting out of breath.

If you already have a weak heart (heart failure), weigh yourself every morning. Gaining 2 to 3 pounds in one day, or 5 pounds in one week, is an early sign of fluid building up. Call us if that happens.

Leg pain is a different sign. If your calf aches or cramps when you walk, and eases when you stop, it can mean the arteries in your legs are narrowed. We explain this on our peripheral artery disease page.

7. Anything that feels different from your normal

Sometimes the most useful sign is simply that something has changed. You get out of breath doing things that used to be easy. Your heart races more often. You feel weaker, or your ankles swell more than before.



None of this alone means you have heart disease. But you know your own body best. A clear change is worth telling a doctor about.

Quick answers

Does one of these signs mean I have heart disease?

No. Many of these signs have causes that have nothing to do with the heart. The point is not to diagnose yourself. It is to know when a sign is worth a call, so that if something is wrong, it is found early.

What happens at a first heart visit?

We talk about how you feel, your health history, and your risk. We check your blood pressure and heart rate and examine you. We may suggest a test or two. An ECG is a quick, simple recording of your heartbeat, done with small stickers on your chest. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound picture of your heart, a lot like the scan used in pregnancy. Many people leave the first visit simply reassured.

How soon can I be seen?

We can usually see new patients within 1 to 2 days, pending insurance approval.

Get checked at Lumen Heart and Vascular

If any of these signs sound familiar, we can see you, find out what is going on, and tell you plainly whether it is your heart. We care for people across Lee and Collier counties, including Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs, and Naples.

Find us at 13411 Parker Commons Blvd, Fort Myers. Call (239) 415-4900 or use our contact page to book. Doctors referring a patient can find what we need on our referral page.

The short version

Chest pressure, getting out of breath, a racing heart, fainting, feeling unusually tired, and swollen ankles all have many causes. Most of the time, they are not serious. What matters is noticing when a sign is new, keeps coming back, or gets worse, and getting it checked instead of waiting. If it feels like an emergency, call 911.

This page is for general education. It is not a substitute for advice from your own doctor. If you have symptoms or concerns, contact your doctor or get emergency care.