Heart Attack Symptoms: 6 Early Morning Warning Signs of the Silent Killer You Should Never Ignore

A heart attack is a medical emergency that can happen anywhere, to anyone. Also known as myocardial infarction – heart attack, is a condition that occurs when the blood flow to some of your heart muscle

stops, which makes it stop working. Doctors say that if there is a delay in restoring the supply quickly, a heart attack would lead to permanent damage to the heart or even death. There are a few warning signs that, in most cases, are avoidable. According to the World Health Organization, around 20 million people died from cardiovascular disease, or CVDs, in 2022 – more than 30 per cent of global deaths. And among these, more than 80 per cent were due to heart attack or stroke. And so, it is important to know what the impending symptoms are so that you can prevent any untoward incident. A few warning signs of a heart attack that appear in the morning include:

Chest discomfort

If you feel uneasy in the chest, especially in the early hours, it can be a serious sign of a heart attack, as doctors say heart attacks happen mostly in early hours due to blood pressure or platelet changes. Make sure to call the emergency services right away for immediate medical help - especially if you feel pressure, squeezing, or radiating to arms, back, neck, jaw, with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or dizziness, as self-diagnosis is risky.

Unusual tiredness

If you unusually feel fatigued right after you wake up or have weakness, it can be a major sign of an impending heart attack. Doctors say feeling drained in the morning hours can happen as there would be a rise in myocardial oxygen demand – a sign that appears in 40 to 70 per cent of cases. It causes inflammation and autonomic shifts and is life-threatening.

Breathlessness

A feeling of sudden breathlessness, despite taking adequate rest, when you wake up gasping, is a significant sign of a heart attack or heart failure - often accompanied by others like discomfort in the chest or sweating. It also causes pain in the arms, back, or jaw, and requires immediate medical attention. Doctors say you may have trouble breathing when your heart struggles with stiff arteries due to overnight dehydration and plaque buildup. This symptom affects women more and worsens with anxiety-like feelings, which happen from low oxygen delivery to tissues, along with fatigue.

Cold sweats

If you just woke up drenched in sweat or suffering from clammy, profuse sweating without exertion, it is a major heart attack warning sign, often occurring with other symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness, nausea, and fatigue. Cold sweats, according to doctors, signal your body's stress response to blocked blood flow.

Dizziness

Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when it happens suddenly, or combined with other signs like chest pain, breathlessness, cold sweats, or fatigue, can be a major symptom of a heart attack – especially in the morning hours. Doctors say it happens due to reduced blood flow to the brain and should prompt immediate medical attention. While other causes like low blood sugar or dehydration can cause morning dizziness, it's crucial not to dismiss it if you have other risk factors or symptoms, as heart attacks can occur without typical crushing chest pain, particularly in women.

Nausea

Morning nausea can be due to digestive issues, pregnancy, or a heart problem. According to doctors, it can stem from vagus nerve irritation during cardiac distress and usually peaks as stomach acid increases after fasting. However, if it persists even after meals, do see your doctor immediately.