Heart Condition Symptoms

Your family history and heart condition symptoms help doctors assess your heart health. At the Keyhole Heart Clinic, we consider the warning signs, alongside risk factors and daily impact, to decide whether monitoring or urgent care is needed.

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KEYHOLE SURGERY

HEART CONDITIONS

Symptoms of Heart Problems

Certain symptoms in men and women can signal coronary heart disease or the need for urgent care.

Heart Disease Symptoms

Signs of heart disease include:

Chest pain triggered by exercise
Chest pain you believe is heart-related
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Swollen feet
Swollen ankles
Heart palpitations
Racing heart rate (abnormal heart rhythm)

Common Heart Failure Symptoms

Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Aches
Limits on daily activities

Signs You May Need Urgent Care

These signs could indicate a medical emergency, and you should seek immediate care.

Pain radiating to the left arm
History of vascular or heart disease
Known heart failure
Sudden severe chest pain/pressure
Chest pain with sweating, nausea, or jaw/neck pain
Severe shortness of breath at rest
Loss of consciousness/syncope

Women’s Heart Symptoms

Heart disease symptoms in women are not always the same as those seen in men. While chest pain is still common, women are more likely to experience less typical symptoms, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.

Women may experience:

Chest discomfort rather than severe chest pain
Shortness of breath
Extreme or unusual fatigue
Upper back, neck, or jaw pain
Nausea, indigestion or vomiting
Dizziness, sweating or palpitations

Women’s symptoms are more likely to be mistaken for stress or anxiety, especially in younger women. This can lead to delayed assessment and treatment. Recognising these symptoms early helps you get the right care quickly.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used for self-diagnosis. Consult your GP if you have any concerns, or dial 999 in an emergency.

Our Heart Health Services

We aim to identify problems early, before surgery becomes necessary. The Keyhole Heart Clinic offers complete heart health services, from prevention and screening to specialist treatment.

Private Heart Screening

Your assessment starts with a face-to-face consultation with an experienced cardiac surgeon and consultant. We’ll run cardiac blood markers and a resting ECG. Additional tests are only recommended when clinically necessary. The same consultant guides you throughout, and we tailor a plan specifically to you.

Book your private screening today

Cardiac Longevity Programme

Health is a partnership. Our programme uses evidence-based assessments to help you prevent and manage heart conditions. We offer three pathways designed for different needs and levels of care. Spaces are limited.

Discover our longevity pathways

Registered Cardiac Dietitian

Our dietitians and nutritional therapists specialise in cardiovascular health. They will address your concerns and goals, like high cholesterol or weight gain. We’ll create a practical diet plan for you.

Schedule your nutrition consultation

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for heart health information from our clinic lead, Mr Inder Birdi.

FAQs About Symptoms of Heart Issues

Explore our FAQs on heart disease symptoms.

Should I assess my own heart issue symptoms?

Yes. Your own rating of symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue is very important. Studies show that how patients rate their heart disease symptoms can help predict hospital admission and worsening heart failure. Keeping track of how you feel helps your healthcare team adapt your treatment plan appropriately.

This 1–5 symptom scale is based on research from large heart failure studies, including the COMET trial. It was designed to let patients self-assess their breathlessness or fatigue, ranging from no symptoms (1) to severe symptoms at rest (5).

Rating	What it feels like	Examples
1 – None	No breathlessness or fatigue	You feel normal, can do all activities
2 – Mild	Slightly noticeable	Walking upstairs at a normal pace feels a bit tiring
3 – Moderate	Noticeable but manageable	Walking on the flat at a normal pace or doing light chores feels tiring
4 – Severe	Hard to manage	Walking slowly or washing and dressing is exhausting
5 – At Rest	Very severe	Breathless or fatigued even when resting

Tip: Record your symptoms daily or weekly. Bring your notes to your appointments to give your healthcare team a clear picture.

What are the different types of heart disease?

Under the banner of heart disease, several medical conditions affect how your heart works, including:

Arrhythmias: Abnormal heart rhythms mean your heart doesn’t beat in a coordinated rhythm. This affects how well blood flows through your body. Common examples include atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and bradycardia.
Cardiomyopathy: A stiff or thickened heart muscle struggles to pump blood effectively. This reduces blood flow throughout your body. Examples include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy.
Coronary artery disease: Fatty deposits build up in your arteries, narrowing the blood vessels. This reduces blood flow to your heart muscle, which can cause chest discomfort or angina. Examples include stable angina and heart attacks.
Heart valve disease: When valves become too narrow or don’t close properly, they restrict blood flow. This makes your heart work harder and can lead to discomfort, fluid buildup in your lungs or legs, and other complications. Examples include aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation.
Heart failure: Your heart can’t pump blood well enough for your body’s needs. This often causes fluid retention, breathlessness, and fatigue. This can result from other causes like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or valve problems.
Congenital heart disease: Heart structure problems or damage present from birth affect normal blood flow. Examples include holes in the heart (septal defects) and valve abnormalities.

Lifestyle changes, medicine and surgery can help manage many of these conditions. The best treatment depends on your specific diagnosis and symptoms.

Contact our compassionate team for any questions about symptoms and warning signs or for more information on treatment options and recovery.

Keyhole Heart Clinic: Expert Heart Health Care

The Keyhole Heart Clinic offers the future of heart surgery today. Our clinic lead, Mr Birdi, specialises in keyhole cardiac procedures, which use smaller incisions than traditional surgery. These include:

Keyhole coronary bypass surgery (from single to quadruple bypass)
Keyhole mitral valve repair or replacement surgery
Keyhole tricuspid valve replacement
Keyhole aortic valve replacement
Keyhole atrial fibrillation ablation
Keyhole atrial septal defect closure

Book a private consultation if you are experiencing any symptoms of a heart condition. Get clarity and peace of mind knowing you have personalised care at a leading clinic.

Services

How We Can Help You

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Keyhole Surgery

Patients who develop narrowed heart arteries often require surgery to bypass the narrowed arteries. This operation is usually performed through a large breastbone cut. Most patients call this surgery CABG or “triple bypass” or “quadruple bypass” dependi...

Keyhole Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

Top heart surgeon Mr Inderpaul Birdi has been performing aortic valve replacement surgery for more than 20 years which means that we are uniquely experienced to provide patients with an alternative procedure for their heart condition that has many benefits...

Keyhole Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Repair

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect whereby a hole is present between the two collecting chambers of the heart, and results in blood overloading the right side of the heart.

Keyhole Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery

Many individuals who need mitral valve repair surgery or mitral valve replacement prefer to avoid having their breastbone opened for understandable reasons. The cut is large, and somewhat painful. In addition, healing takes nearly 3 months, and this prevents...

Keyhole Tricuspid Valve Repair & Replacement Surgery

As with all heart disease, it must be diagnosed quickly and treated by experts which we offer at our London Heart Clinic. We understand that heart disease can be scary, and that if you are diagnosed with it, it’s best to be prepared, and to have all t...