The main cause of death globally is still heart disease. Heart attacks may occur suddenly without any warning signs. However, in the film industry, intense chest pain would be portrayed for a heart attack. In actuality, many patients have slight symptoms that go unnoticed until the time of their heart attack days or even weeks prior to that.

Heart attacks do not always announce themselves with dramatic chest pain. Often, they manifest in subtle, easy-to-dismiss ways. Recognizing these overlooked warning signs and taking proactive steps toward cardiovascular health can save lives. If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, seeking immediate medical care is crucial. Prioritizing heart health today can help prevent life-threatening complications in the future.

Warning Sings of A Heart Attack

1. Discomfort Pressure in the Chest

One of the earliest and most common warning signs of an impending heart attack is pressure, tightness, or fullness in the chest. This pain is not typically sharp and sudden, like most people associate with a heart attack, but it can be intermittent, coming in waves, and lasting for several minutes before fading away. According to the American Heart Association, this is one of the red flags when accompanied by exertion. If you have persistent chest pressure, you should call emergency services immediately.

2. Pain Radiating to Other Parts of the Body

The well-known symptom of chest pain can also manifest discomfort related to a heart attack as pain radiating to other parts of the body. It is not unusual for people experiencing this kind of heart attack to report feeling pain in the shoulders, arms, back, neck, and even jaw. The vagus nerve is one that connects the heart to the brain, abdomen, and neck. The pain may be referred to these regions. In case you experience a sudden, unexplained pain in these regions, especially when exercising, seek a doctor's opinion.

3. Dizziness and Lightheadedness

Feeling dizziness upon standing up quickly or missing a meal is common, but unexplained dizziness often with chest pain or shortness of breath is the first sign of heart attack. Sudden hypotension can seriously decrease the blood supply to the brain and cause dizziness. Dizziness that does not go away on its own should not be ignored.

4. Unexplained Fatigue

It often happens that excessive tiredness, particularly in a busy lifestyle, is considered trivial, but ongoing fatigue, mostly in women, is a predictor of heart failure. According to some studies, extreme fatigue often starts a month before a heart attack, primarily in women. This is simply because the heart cannot pump well enough, leaving insufficient oxygen available to muscles and organs. Consult a healthcare professional if you become increasingly tired over time, yet are getting all the rest in the world.

5. Nausea, Indigestion, or Stomach Pain

Digestive problems like nausea, vomiting, or indigestion are often mistaken for acid reflux or food poisoning. However, these symptoms can also indicate reduced blood flow to the digestive tract, a common precursor to heart attacks. If you experience gastrointestinal distress alongside other symptoms like dizziness or chest discomfort, it's important to seek medical advice immediately.

6. Cold Sweats and Excessive Perspiration

Without apparent reason, a heart attack might be signaled by sudden sweating without any exercise or hot weather conditions. The heart's inability to function properly creates the body's "fight or flight" reaction, which means excessive sweating will occur. Be aware of your body and never ignore a cold sweat, particularly if it coincides with other symptoms.

7. Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat

A racing or irregular heartbeat can be a normal reaction to stress or caffeine consumption. However, regular or unprovoked heart palpitations may indicate that the heart is under duress. If the heart is not getting enough oxygen-rich blood, it can start to beat irregularly. If you experience palpitations along with dizziness, chest pain, or shortness of breath, you should see a doctor right away.

8. Shortness of Breath

If suddenly climbing stairs or performing other everyday activities becomes a problem, then there may be a heart issue. Shortness of breath usually occurs with heart conditions because the circulation is not adequate and less oxygen is provided to the lungs. This symptom can occur either with or without chest pain and is an important indicator of the presence of underlying heart disease. If you find yourself experiencing sudden unexplained breathlessness, then seek a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Early detection of these symptoms and early intervention can help avoid a life-threatening heart attack. You should visit a doctor if you feel the following symptoms:

• Symptoms induced by exertion and relieved by rest
• The simultaneous onset of several warning signs, including weakness, dizziness, and nausea
• Personal or family history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, or smoking

Preventing Heart Attacks: Proactive Steps for Heart Health

Although heart attacks may come out of nowhere, lifestyle plays an important role in reducing a patient's risk; here are some heart-healthy habits to consider:

Take on a Heart-Healthy Diet: Focus on consuming whole foods, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables. Try to limit processed foods, saturated fats, and added sugars.

Stay Active: Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week to strengthen your heart and improve blood circulation.

Smoking. Smoking is probably the single largest risk factor for heart disease. If you are a smoker, quitting can easily be the single best thing you can do to improve your heart health.

Deal with Stress: Chronic stress leads to heart disease. Relaxed people through various relaxation techniques including yoga, meditation, and even deep breathing, have lesser stresses.

Regular health checks Monitor blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar on a regular basis. The risk factors' early detection can help avoid serious complications.

Winter brings a significant rise in respiratory problems, particularly among people living with asthma. Increased air pollution, falling temperatures and exposure to dust and other airborne irritants can trigger inflammation in the airways, leading to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness.

While these factors can make asthma more difficult to manage, many patients also make treatment-related mistakes that can worsen their symptoms and increase the risk of an asthma attack.

One of the most common mistakes is discontinuing inhalers when symptoms improve. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition, and the absence of symptoms does not necessarily mean that the underlying inflammation has resolved. Controller inhalers, particularly those containing inhaled corticosteroids, help reduce airway inflammation and prevent flare-ups.

Stopping these medications without medical advice can leave patients vulnerable to sudden exacerbations, especially during periods of high pollution.

Another concern is the excessive reliance on rescue inhalers. These inhalers provide quick relief by relaxing the muscles around the airways, but they do not necessarily address the underlying inflammation. Frequent use may indicate that asthma is not adequately controlled and that the patient's treatment plan needs to be reviewed by a doctor. Patients should not increase their medication dosage or frequency without appropriate medical guidance.

Incorrect inhaler technique is another frequently overlooked problem. Patients may use their inhalers too quickly, fail to coordinate inhalation with medication release or neglect to hold their breath briefly after inhaling. These mistakes can prevent the medicine from reaching the lungs effectively. Regularly reviewing inhaler technique with a healthcare professional and using a spacer, where recommended, can significantly improve drug delivery.

Many patients also underestimate the importance of continuing their prescribed treatment during symptom-free periods. Some turn to steam inhalation, home remedies or over-the-counter cough medications instead of following their asthma management plan. Although certain supportive measures may provide comfort, they cannot replace prescribed asthma medication. Hot steam can also cause burns and should not be used as a treatment for asthma.

During winter, patients should monitor local air quality, reduce prolonged outdoor exposure when pollution levels are high, avoid tobacco smoke and other respiratory irritants, and keep their prescribed medication accessible. Wearing a well-fitting mask outdoors may help reduce exposure to particulate pollution, although it does not eliminate the risk.

Most importantly, people with asthma should have an individualised asthma action plan and attend regular follow-ups. Worsening breathlessness, difficulty speaking in full sentences or symptoms that do not respond to the prescribed reliever require urgent medical attention. With correct inhaler use, consistent treatment and timely medical review, most patients can manage their asthma more effectively even during highly polluted winter months.

(By Dr. Arunachalam M, Sr. Consultant and HOD-Pulmonology, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Noida)

Changes in stride like a slower walking pace, fewer steps or a change in the way your arms move may be considered as signs of ageing. However, an emerging study suggests that minor differences in walking patterns could be subtle, early indicators of Parkinson’s disease. According to the study, these signs can can emerge years before Parkinson's diagnosis.

Published in the Journal of Neural Transmission, the study analysed movement data from more than 73,000 participants in the UK Biobank. Researchers found that certain changes in walking behaviour could indicate a future Parkinson’s diagnosis, surfacing up to 6.8 years beforehand.

The findings indicate that Parkinson’s disease may begin developing long before its more familiar symptoms like tremors and stiffness, become noticeable.

Findings From The Study

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Researchers examined data from 73,413 people who wore wearables that track movement for seven days. Their health records were then followed for up to 10 years. Of the participants without Parkinson’s at the time of the movement assessment, 314 were diagnosed with the disease during follow-up.

Using a digital analysis tool called Watch Walk, researchers examined 17 characteristics related to gait. They identified five walking characteristics that were consistently linked with a subsequent Parkinson’s diagnosis:

• Fewer steps each day: Participants who later developed Parkinson’s recorded lower daily step counts than those who did not.
• Slower walking speed: People who were diagnosed later tended to walk more slowly, including at their maximum walking speed.
• Shorter walking periods: They also spent a lesser amount of their time walking in longer, continuous stretches.
• Changes in step regularity: Their steps showed less consistent rhythm, indicating alterations in the regularity of their walking pattern.
• Reduced natural arm swing: They spent more time walking with their arms in a static position instead of swinging naturally.

Effects Of Parkinson’s Disease On Walking

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Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. It occurs due to the loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine in a brain region called the substantia nigra. Dopamine helps regulate movement, coordination and other functions.

As dopamine levels decline, the brain's ability to coordinate movement is affected. This can lead to bradykinesia, or slowness of movement, rigidity of muscle, tremors and balance issues.

These changes can also affect gait. A person may take smaller steps, walk more slowly, experience difficulty moving or reduced swinging arms.

The study's findings suggest that some of these motor changes may be detectable in everyday movement well before the condition is formally diagnosed.

Changes in walking speed, balance, step length or arm movement can occur for several reasons, including ageing, joint problems, injuries, medication effects and other neurological conditions.

Parkinson’s disease is, however, diagnosed through a clinical assessment, which considers a person's symptoms, medical history and neurological examination. Other symptoms that may warrant medical evaluation include:

• A tremor especially when the affected hand or limb is at rest.
• Slowness in everyday movements like dressing or getting up from a chair.
• Muscle stiffness or rigidity.
• Problems with balance.
• Smaller handwriting or changes in speech volume.

Early Detection Of Parkinson’s Disease

Although there is currently no established treatment that stops or reverses the underlying progression of Parkinson’s disease, an earlier diagnosis can help people manage symptoms, access rehabilitation and support sooner.

Exercise, physiotherapy and medical care can help maintain mobility, balance and quality of life. Early assessment can also help doctors distinguish Parkinson’s from other conditions that may cause similar movement difficulties.

After the social media trend of ‘ferritin face’ had everyone scrutinising their face for pale skin, dark circles and sluggish features due to low iron levels, attention is now shifting to hair. Described as ‘ferritin hair’, social media users have been attributing symptoms like unusual hair shedding, thinning and brittle strands to the body’s low iron stores.

The trend is not just a fluke. There is a medical basis for recognising iron deficiency in people facing hair loss. However, ‘ferritin hair’ is not a formal medical diagnosis. Hair loss can be due to several reasons, including hormonal changes, stress, thyroid disorders, nutritional deficiencies and genetic hair-loss conditions.

So is there a connection between ferritin and hair health and which signs should prompt someone to seek medical advice?

What Is Ferritin And How Is It Connected To Your Hair?

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Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body and releases it when needed. A blood ferritin test helps assess the body's iron reserves. Iron is essential for several functions, including the production of haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood.

When iron stores are exhausted, the body prioritises essential functions over those that are not absolutely necessary for survival. Hair growth may be affected in some people, contributing to increased shedding.

A 2023 clinical review published in Cutis noted that measuring serum ferritin can be useful while evaluating people with diffuse hair loss, especially to identify underlying iron deficiency.

A 2026 study published in Cureus reported that low serum ferritin and telogen effluvium in women may be connected.

A separate systematic review published in 2026 also found lower ferritin levels among people with telogen effluvium.

The European Food Safety Authority has also observed a cause-and-effect relationship between iron intake and the maintenance of normal hair growth.

Possible Signs Of 'Ferritin Hair'

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Hair shedding: One possible sign is diffuse hair shedding, in which more hair than usual falls from across the scalp rather than from one specific area. This can occur due to a condition called telogen effluvium, in which more hair follicles than usual enter the resting phase of the hair-growth cycle.

Hair thinning: Constant shedding can make the hair appear less dense over time. Some people may notice a wider-looking parting or thinner volume.

Dry or brittle hair: Iron deficiency may cause dry, brittle hair. However, hair texture can also be affected by heat styling, chemical treatments and other nutritional factors.

Other symptoms: Hair shedding may occur with other signs of iron deficiency like fatigue, weakness, poor concentration, breathlessness, palpitations or pale skin.

Causes Of Iron Deficiency Or Low Ferritin Levels

Iron deficiency can develop when the body loses more iron than it absorbs and does not receive enough through diet. Heavy menstrual bleeding and pregnancy are common reasons for iron deficiency. Other possible causes include:

• Inadequate dietary iron: People who do not consume enough iron-rich foods are at risk if their diets are restrictive.
• Poor absorption: Conditions such as coeliac disease can interfere with the absorption of iron.
• Blood loss: Gastrointestinal conditions like gastritis and intestinal polyps can sometimes lead to iron loss.
• Increased requirements: Pregnancy can demand increased iron needs.