A heart surgeon has opened up about the three key symptoms which could be a warning sign you may be having a heart attack.
Heart health is something everyone should take seriously and there are some steps - from eating healthily and exercising, to getting your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked regularly - that can give you the best chance of keeping your ticker in tip-top shape.
However, there are some warning symptoms that could signal that everything isn't quite right with your heart - and getting prompt treatment could be life-saving.
Dr. Jeremy London, a heart surgeon from Savannah, Georgia, took to TikTok to share some of the signs people should look out for.
He explained: "The first one is the biggest red flag, and that is chest pain, or more commonly chest pressure. It’s brought on with activity and relieved with rest.
"This is an indication that a portion of the heart may be blood starved and this is referred to as stable angina."
While stable angina - which can be brought on by stress, exercise, or cold weather - tends to resolve with rest or medication, it can be an indication that something is wrong and could lead to a heart attack if symptoms worsen or persist.
London warned that the second warning sign is "a little more subtle,” revealing that it is "shortness of breath, particularly again with activity," but clarified: "But it's progressive shortness of breath, in other words it's getting worse over time."
The third symptom is the most subtle of all, as London revealed: "It’s easy fatiguability or a decrease in exercise tolerance."
While it's normal to feel knackered after taking an intense exercise class or going for a run, London warns that "fatigue out of proportion to the activity" is when you should start to worry.
If things like "taking out the garbage, taking a shower, crossing the parking lot of the supermarket and having to stop" begin to feel like intense effort, London warns that "these are all red flags" that you need to go and see a doctor.
He added: "Our bodies have built-in warning systems, the key is that you respond to them before you get into trouble."
London's video has since been viewed over 900,000 times, and people shared their thoughts in the comments.
One viewer wrote: "I had all of these for 2 years but doctors said it was nothing was wrong, then had heart attack in Jan, feb I had triple heart bypass."
Others added: "I thought I just wasn’t fit enough, turns out I needed two valves replaced. Good as gold now," and: "heart failure survivor here. these are on point but hard to get doctors to take seriously."
Some added that the symptoms can also be caused by other conditions such as anxiety, writing: "i had all this & have anxiety (i saw a cardiologist)" and: "my anxiety gives me all of these symptoms."
Others commented: "oddly enough, GERD can cause some of these symptoms," and: "Me with every symptom but I have POTS."
One added: "man i have anxiety and MS... I regularly have these symptoms but my tests always show my heart is good."
Of course, these symptoms are not exhaustive, as heart issues can also present with a persistent pain in the left arm, fainting or dizziness, neck or jaw pain, sweating, and an irregular heartbeat among others.
The main thing is - if you're experiencing anything unusual or worrying, go and see your doctor sooner rather than later to catch potentially serious conditions early.