A doctor has highlighted three key warning signs of a heart attack, pointing out one particular symptom that might go unnoticed and is often more common in women.

A heart attack, a critical condition where the heart’s blood supply is abruptly cut off by a clot, can manifest in various ways such as chest pain, dizziness, sweating, and breathlessness, as per the NHS.

Dr. Chris Kelly, chair of cardiology at UNC Rex Hospital in North Carolina, has revealed three significant indicators of a heart attack, each requiring an immediate trip to the hospital. Notably, one of these signs is less common and more frequently associated with other illnesses than the other two.

Taking to Instagram he said: “The first sign of a possible heart attack is the most classic sign of them all and that’s chest pain. Sometimes its described as chest pressure, tightness or fullness, or just aching.

“If you’re having anything in your chest that feels uncomfortable and it’s not getting better after a few minutes, especially if it’s also going into your shoulders, arms or jaw, that’s a really concerning sign and you need to get to an emergency room right away.”

He added that sudden onset shortness of breath could be an indicator of a heart attack. He said: “If you’re not really doing anything but you feel like you’ve just run a mile, it could be a sign that your heart is struggling to function properly and fluid is backing up into your lungs.

“So if you get sudden onset shortness of breath, get straight to an emergency room for further evaluation.”

Finally, he shared a more unusual sign of a heart attack which could be easily mistaken for a different issue. The doctor said anyone with sudden abdominal pain and nausea should be wary.

Dr Kelly added: “The third sign of a possible heart attack is actually abdominal pain and nausea. Now, a lot of things can cause that but if you have risk factors for heart disease and you’re over the age of 50, and you have sudden onset belly pain and nausea, and you just don’t feel right, that actually could be a sign of a heart attack – and this is particularly common in women so if you experience that and it doesn’t get better within a few minutes, get straight to the emergency room.”

The doctor added that getting treatment as early is possible is crucial when it comes to heart health. He said: “As we say in cardiology, time is muscle. The sooner you get into the emergency room, the more likely your heart is to recover and the more likely it is to function properly long term. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

According to the NHS, Symptoms of a heart attack can include:

They added: “The chest pain is often severe, but some people may only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion. While the most common symptom is chest pain, symptoms can vary from person to person.

“Some people may have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling or being sick and back or jaw pain without any chest pain. Call 999 immediately if you think someone might be having a heart attack. The faster you act, the better their chances.”