68 Harley Street London, W1G 7HE · Main Office
Also at Cromwell & Syon Bishops Wood · Multiple Locations
0203 9838 001 Call for Appointments
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Cardiac Symptoms
Your Heart is Trying to Tell You Something
Symptoms are the language of the heart. Understanding what they mean — and knowing when to act — is the first step towards an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment. None of the symptoms below should be ignored.
Why Symptoms Matter
Listen to Your Body — Then Act
Cardiac symptoms are the body's most direct signal that the heart is under strain. They are often dismissed as stress, ageing, or something that will pass. The reality is that many serious conditions — including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and dangerous arrhythmias — are entirely treatable when caught early.
Dr Nijjer sees patients across the full spectrum: those with a single episode of chest tightness on a morning run; those who have been breathless for months without explanation; and those who have collapsed and been told it was "just a faint." Every symptom deserves a thorough, unhurried, expert assessment.
1in4
Deaths in the UK
are from heart disease
are from heart disease
80%
Of cardiac events
are preventable
are preventable
48h
Urgent appointment
access where possible
access where possible
All
Major insurers
accepted
accepted
Six Key Symptoms
What Are You Experiencing?
Requires Prompt Assessment
Chest Pain
Pressure, tightness, or burning in the chest
Chest pain is the most important cardiac symptom. It may feel like pressure, squeezing, tightness, or a heavy weight on the chest — sometimes spreading to the jaw, left arm, or back. It can also be more subtle: a dull ache, an awareness of discomfort, or pain triggered by exertion that eases with rest. It must never be dismissed without investigation.
Could indicate
- Angina — reduced blood supply to the heart muscle during exertion
- Acute coronary syndrome or heart attack — a blocked coronary artery
- Pericarditis — inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart
- Aortic dissection — a tear in the wall of the main artery from the heart
Important to Investigate
Breathlessness
Difficulty breathing disproportionate to activity
Feeling breathless during ordinary activities — climbing stairs, carrying shopping, or even at rest — is a sign that the heart or lungs are not functioning as they should. Breathlessness on exertion that steadily worsens over weeks is particularly significant and warrants investigation, even if each individual episode seems to pass.
Could indicate
- Heart failure — the heart is not pumping efficiently, causing fluid to accumulate
- Coronary artery disease — reduced blood supply limiting heart muscle function
- Cardiomyopathy — a disease of the heart muscle itself
- Severe valve disease — obstructed or leaking heart valves reducing cardiac output
Important to Investigate
Palpitations
Awareness of a racing, fluttering, or irregular heartbeat
Palpitations — a conscious awareness of the heartbeat — range from the occasional missed beat that everyone experiences, to a sustained racing or irregular rhythm that can last minutes or hours. When palpitations occur at rest, cause dizziness or breathlessness, or start and stop abruptly, they require investigation to exclude an arrhythmia.
Could indicate
- Atrial fibrillation — the most common sustained arrhythmia
- Ectopic beats — extra heartbeats from the upper or lower chambers
- Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) — sudden bursts of fast regular rhythm
- Ventricular arrhythmia — potentially serious fast rhythm from the lower chambers
Requires Prompt Assessment
Syncope & Collapse
Sudden, brief loss of consciousness
Syncope — a blackout or faint — is a sudden, complete loss of consciousness followed by rapid, full recovery. While many episodes are benign vasovagal faints, some are caused by dangerous cardiac arrhythmias or structural heart disease. Syncope during exertion, without warning, or with a family history of sudden cardiac death demands urgent expert evaluation.
Could indicate
- Vasovagal syncope — a nerve reflex causing a harmless but frightening faint
- Cardiac arrhythmia — heart block, sick sinus syndrome, or ventricular tachycardia
- Structural heart disease — hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or severe aortic stenosis
- Orthostatic hypotension — blood pressure falling on standing
Requires Prompt Assessment
Orthopnoea
Breathlessness that comes on when lying flat
Orthopnoea is breathlessness that worsens on lying flat and is relieved by sitting or standing upright. Many patients describe needing multiple pillows to sleep, or waking suddenly at night gasping for breath (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea). This is a classic and important sign of significant fluid overload — most commonly due to heart failure — and demands urgent assessment.
Could indicate
- Heart failure — fluid redistributes from the legs to the lungs when supine
- Severe mitral regurgitation — a leaking valve causing pulmonary congestion
- Cardiomyopathy — weakened heart muscle unable to handle increased preload lying flat
- Pericardial effusion — fluid around the heart compressing its function
Important to Investigate
Ankle Swelling
Persistent swelling of the ankles, feet, or lower legs
Ankle and leg swelling — known medically as peripheral oedema — occurs when fluid accumulates in the tissues. When it is symmetrical (both legs), persistent, and worsens through the day or in hot weather, it warrants investigation. The pitting test — pressing a finger into the swollen area and leaving an indentation — is a hallmark of fluid overload and should prompt cardiology review.
Could indicate
- Right heart failure — the right ventricle is not clearing venous blood effectively
- Biventricular failure — both sides of the heart are under strain
- Tricuspid valve disease — a leaking right-sided valve causing venous congestion
- Medication-related oedema — calcium channel blockers and other drugs can cause this
When to Act Immediately
Some Symptoms Cannot Wait
While all the symptoms on this page deserve expert evaluation, some combinations require emergency action. If you are experiencing any of the following right now, call 999 immediately — do not drive yourself to hospital and do not wait for a cardiology appointment.
Call the Clinic: 0203 983 8001Call 999 immediately if you have any of these:
- Severe chest pain or pressure lasting more than 15 minutes, especially with sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw
- Sudden severe breathlessness at rest — particularly if accompanied by pink frothy sputum, which suggests acute pulmonary oedema
- Collapse or blackout during exertion — exercise-related syncope is a red flag for structural heart disease
- Rapid, sustained palpitations with associated dizziness, chest pain, or near-collapse
- New breathlessness lying flat that woke you from sleep — paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea is a cardiac emergency until proven otherwise
For symptoms that concern you but are not an emergency, call the clinic on 0203 983 8001 — urgent appointments are typically available within 48 hours.
From Symptom to Answer
How Dr Nijjer Gets to the Diagnosis
01
Detailed History
A thorough understanding of your symptoms — when they occur, how long they last, what brings them on, and what makes them better — provides the most important diagnostic information before any test is performed.
02
Clinical Examination
A focused cardiovascular examination at your first appointment — including pulse, blood pressure, heart sounds, and assessment for fluid retention — often reveals significant findings immediately.
03
Targeted Investigations
ECG, echocardiogram, CT coronary angiography, ambulatory heart monitoring, tilt table testing, stress echocardiography, and cardiac MRI — selected precisely based on your symptoms, not as a blanket screen.
04
Clear Answers
Results are explained in plain language. Whether findings point towards a treatable condition, require ongoing monitoring, or confirm a benign cause — you will always leave with a clear explanation and a plan.
Don't Wait — Get an Expert Opinion
Symptoms that seem minor can sometimes signal something important. Dr Nijjer's practice is built on taking symptoms seriously, investigating thoroughly, and giving patients clarity. Book a consultation today.
Call us: 0203 983 8001 · jessica@oneheartclinic.com · One Heart Clinic, 68 Harley Street