Heart health basics: symptoms worth taking seriously
Women and older adults may not feel “Hollywood” chest pain. Pressure, breathlessness, fatigue, or jaw pain still deserve evaluation.
Patterns to mention promptly
- New shortness of breath walking distances you handled last month.
- Pressure, squeezing, or burning in chest, neck, jaw, or upper back—especially with exertion.
- Irregular heartbeats with dizziness or fainting.
Medications and honesty
Bring your full list (template). Some over-the-counter cold medicines affect blood pressure; your clinician can suggest alternatives.
Emergency: crushing chest pain >5 minutes, pain spreading to arm/jaw, cold sweat, or fainting—call
emergency services. If unsure, call anyway.
Reviewed by Daniel Cho, PharmD · 2026-05-02