The five heart symptoms you should not ignore

Heart attack symptoms that should not be ignored: 

1. Chest pain and pressure. There is always a chance it’s something else, like heartburn or even an anxiety attack. But chest pain is nothing to second guess. The American Heart Association says heart attack discomfort is typically felt in the center of the chest, and can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. 
2. Feeling short of breath. Unless you just ran a few miles, this is never normal. Have it checked out right away. This is one of the signs that is more commonly seen in women (although it happens in men as well). 
3. Dizziness or lightheadedness. This is a classic symptom that something is going on with your body. It could be something other than your heart, but regardless of the cause, you must seek treatment. Even if it’s not your heart, dizziness can put you at risk of dangerous falls or accidents. 
4. Swollen ankles, legs or feet. This is often a sign that your heart isn’t pumping blood the way it should. Get to a doctor right away if you notice this happening.  
5. Exhaustion. Feeling fatigued can be normal under the right circumstances - you couldn’t stop that late-night Netflix binge, you have the flu or you just came from a hard workout. But if you find yourself getting winded or exhausted from doing daily routines that wouldn’t normally tire you - carrying in groceries or walking upstairs - don’t wait. “Extreme exhaustion or unexplained weakness, sometimes for days at a time, can be a symptom of heart disease, especially for women,” the American Heart Association says. Call a doctor.