The Subtle Signs of Heart Disease You Might Miss, As Featured in The Telegraph

Most of us imagine heart disease arriving with a dramatic warning: crushing chest pain, an emergency dash to hospital, flashing monitors. But the truth is far quieter and often far easier to overlook. That’s exactly why conversations and awareness matter so much.

We were delighted to see our Medical Director, Professor Dan Augustine, featured throughout a recent article featured in The Telegraph: “The unusual signs of heart disease you might not spot.” It shines a light on the symptoms people tend to shrug off and why those subtle changes deserve more attention than we often give them.

The Quiet Symptoms That Matter

If there’s one thing we hear from patients time and time again, it’s this:

“I didn’t think it was my heart.”

A bit of jaw tightness. Feeling tired for no clear reason. Struggling a little more with the stairs than usual. Chest discomfort that feels more like indigestion than anything “serious”.

Individually, they’re easy to dismiss. Together, they can paint a very different picture, and that’s what the Telegraph article explores so well.

Heart disease still claims more lives each year than cancer. And while it can be loud and dramatic, it can also be slow, subtle and quiet. Understanding those quieter signals is one of the most important tools we have in preventing bigger problems later on.

Prof Dan Augustine’s Expert Insight

Dan talks in the article about the three main types of symptoms doctors look for when assessing heart health:

Chest pain

Not always sharp or severe, sometimes it’s a pressure, heaviness or discomfort that spreads to the arm, jaw or neck.

Breathlessness

Particularly when it’s new, unexplained or appears during activities you used to manage comfortably.

Palpitations

Those fluttery, skipping, racing moments that make you suddenly aware of your heartbeat.

He also explains something we see all the time in the clinic: heart disease doesn’t usually appear overnight. It builds. People slowly adapt, doing a little less than they used to, avoiding hills, and walking instead of running, until one day they realise just how much they’ve changed to avoid the symptoms.

That’s why tuning into these “little things” is so important.

The Everyday Signs That Deserve a Second Look

Some of the lesser-known early clues are things many of us wouldn’t immediately connect to the heart:

• Persistent fatigue

• Jaw, back or arm discomfort

• Feeling dizzy or light-headed

• Nausea

• Swollen ankles

• A choking sensation or tight throat

• Disturbed sleep or breathlessness when lying flat

  
  

It doesn’t mean every ache or tired moment is heart-related. But when something feels new, unusual or persistent, it’s worth paying attention.

Why We Care About Awareness

At Sports Cardiology UK, we often meet people who felt “something wasn’t quite right” but weren’t sure if it was worth checking. We always say the same thing:

If your body is telling you a new story, it’s worth listening.

Early assessment can provide reassurance, clarity or timely treatment, and all three are valuable.

Speak to Our Team

If you’ve noticed changes in your energy levels, your breathing, or how your body responds to everyday movement, we’re here to help you make sense of it.

Book a heart health assessment today.